Kawakawa Traditional Cache

Kawakawa or the New Zealand Pepper Tree is a costal shrub which produces egg-shaped berries the size of a small plum. The fruit, bark and leaves of the kawakawa are all edible and have medicinal properties.

The glossy leaves are made into a tea by being steeped in hot water. Maori custom is to use the leaves as a head wreath for tangis, chew the leaves to reduce toothache and place leaves on a fire to create an insect repellent.