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Story: Te mahi kai – food production economics

Perei

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Perei

The perei or hūperei (potato orchid) is New Zealand’s tallest ground orchid. Its tubers are rich in starch, and were roasted in embers or steamed in hāngī (earth ovens).

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by Ian St George

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How to cite this page

Manuka Henare, Te mahi kai – food production economics – Types of food production, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20260/perei (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Manuka Henare, published 1 March 2009.