Story: Oneone – soils

Borrow pits, Wairarapa

Borrow pits, Wairarapa

These depressions in the ground at Ōkoropunga on the south Wairarapa coast are known as borrow pits. Gravel was dug out and then added to the soil in gardens to make it more suitable for growing kūmara (sweet potato).

Using this item

New Zealand Society of Soil Science
Reference: Les Molloy, Soils in the New Zealand landscape: the living mantle. Wellington: Mallinson Rendel, 1988, plate 15.2
Photograph by Quentin Christie

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How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Oneone – soils - Uses of soil', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/19111/borrow-pits-wairarapa (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 24 Nov 2008