Food from the sea

Fishing for food is an important part of this coastal narrative and, like Maori, European New Zealanders soon developed a tradition of gathering and eating kaimoana/seafood, which remains deep-rooted to this day.

But as New Zealand’s population grew and society changed, collecting wild foods – including seafood – became less universal. And while many Pakeha clearly feel a close connection to the ocean and its creatures, most can’t claim the same spiritual or cultural connection as Maori.

Pre-contact Maori valued kaimoana highly, especially after native bird and marine mammal resources declined during the first centuries of settlement. For most Maori, collecting