Kawakawa

Kawakawa is a traditional medicinal plant of the Māori. The fruit, bark and leaves of the kawakawa all have medicinal properties. The leaves are made into a tea by being steeped in hot water.An infusion is made from the leaves or roots, and used for bladder problems, boils, bruises, to relieve pain or toothache, or as a general tonic. The sweet edible yellow berries (most often found in summer on female trees) of the plant were eaten as a diuretic.

This plant is in my school grounds, our teacher Mr. Emerson Nikora teaches the kids Haka Kapa, and the girls use the leaves of the KawaKawa in our welcoming ceremonies.