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Kupu Whakataki
E möhio whänuitia ana tënei momo rau hua whenua te
pühä huri noa te ao whänui, häunga i roto i ngä momo
hua whenua he momo tarutaru noa iho töna ähua. He
tokomaha anö hoki ngä momo ahurea, tängata, momo iwi
e whakarite ana i tënei momo rau hei kai, hei rongoa tonu.
Ko tä te Mäori möhio, märamatanga ki tënei momo rau, he
kai hei kïnaki i ëtahi atu momo kai, ä, he rongoa tonu. I te
mea he rau, he pua ka hauhaketia mai i te wä o ngä tipuna
katahi ka whakaritea hei kai, hängai tonu ki te wähanga o
te tau, me te kïnaki tonu ki ëtahi atu momo kai. I ngä rä o
mua, ka whakaritea te rau nei hei kötamutamu pënei i te
pia ngaugau, hei pörua anö hoki i te hinu tä moko, mau
moko, hei momo inu ränei, hei täpiri atu ränei ki ëtahi atu
momo rau hauora. Ko ënei momo ähuatanga katoa o te
pühä e whakaara mai ai ëtahi momo mätauranga hängai
ki tënei momo rau te pühä.

Te wäriu nui o tënei momo rau te pühä mai i ngä rä o mua,
tae noa mai ki ënei rä ki te Mäori e kitea ai he wähi nui
tonu tënei momo rau ka taea te whakarite hei hokohoko.
Kia tutuki ai tënei ähuatanga me tïmata te hunga ki
te whakatipu i ngä momo pua, kaupapa whakahaere
whakatipu rau, ana momo hauhake, me te tiaki i ënei
momo rau mutu kau ana te hauhake. Inä rä kua oti kë te
titiro i ngä momo ngängära tükino i aua momo rau pühä,
kia whakatipua ki te taha i tërä momo huawhenua te reta.
He maha ngä hua pai o te pühä hei rau hua whenua, ä,
käre hoki e mihi ka tino kitea tënei momo hua whenua hei
kai tötika ä töna wä. He kaha tonu te hiahiatia e te hunga
kai huawhenua o tënei momo kai te pühä, kia märama ngä
momo whakahaere, hauhake e tipu ai te momo mätauranga
kei roto i tënei momo kai a täua te Mäori.

Abstract
The annual and perennial sow-thistles (Sonchus spp.)
are a well recognised plant around the world, often as
weeds within cropping systems. Sow-thistles are also
recognised by many cultures for their value as food plants
and sometimes as medicines. Mäori of New Zealand
know the locally available species of sow-thistle (S.
asper & S. oleraceus) as pühä which has a reputation as
a primary green vegetable cooked in various ways and
also as a contributor to their traditional medicines. As a
vegetable, the juvenile plant is generally harvested from
wild populations and prepared for a variety of dishes
according to the season or availability of other ingredients. Traditionally various parts of the plant were also used as a
form of chewing gum, a base material for tattooing ink, as
a tonic, and for a variety of health uses. All these factors
contribute to a traditional knowledge base or mätauranga
of the pühä plant.

The value of pühä to traditional and contemporary
Mäori society has highlighted the likelihood for this plant
to be commercially produced. To achieve this, potential
producers need to look towards production systems that are
inclusive of seed production, crop management, harvesting
and postharvest activities. Some key issues around pest
and disease management have been identified, especially
where pühä is grown in close proximity to lettuce crops and
the incidence of lettuce aphids (Hyperomyzus lactucae),
an important vector of Lettuce Necrotic Yellows Virus
(LNYV), or downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) is likely.
The nutritional value of pühä will further assist its
recognition as a vegetable and the expected demand for
it from consumers will drive the need to ensure producers
are fully informed about production systems, including the
contribution from mätauranga held within Mäori society.