‘Taputini’ – a traditional kūmara cultivar
|
‘Taputini’ – a traditional kūmara cultivar
The large kūmara (sweet potato) available in supermarkets are quite different from the more slender varieties that Polynesians brought with them to New Zealand. Kūmara were the most successful introduced crop, flourishing in northern, coastal areas. However, they were marginal in the colder central North Island and the South Island. They came originally from South America and were being grown and eaten in the Cook Islands by 1000 AD. The most probable explanation for this is that Polynesian seafarers had made round trips to South America by this time.
About this item
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand - He Wharekura-tini Kaihautu o Aotearoa
Photograph by Graham Harris
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
