The force of the forest

"There is a life force in our forest, some people say it’s just a forest, but we know there is more ..."

After several days of heavy rain, and by heavy rain, I mean really heavy rain, I was pleased to see the sun and blue sky for a change. I think the children must have been pleased too. After so much rainfall, everything does look a lot greener and fresher. This is the perfect time to kick of our shoes, put on our gumboots, head for the bush and shake of any cabin fever! We are lucky, at Little Earth, that the bush is only a five minute walk away.


Nikau Reserve is a lush nikau palm forest, a lovely little heaven in a place you least expect it. Once entered, you find yourself in a realm of palm trees, ferns, and dense undergrowth. The reserve is full of native flora and fauna, and we often see kereru, tui and fantail. The kereru is New Zealand’s native wood pigeon, which plays a crucial role to the  regeneration of our native forest as they disperse seeds. The fantail is a little bird with a curious nature, which follows us around, hopping from branch to branch. The tui is a nectar feeding bird and endemic to New Zealand. The tui has a distinctive call, and it is always fun to spot a tui up in the trees.

At Little Earth we have been learning about Tāne Māhuta, the forest. In Maori mythology, people, and all aspects of nature are descended from the Sky Father (Ranginui) and the Earth Mother (Papatuanuku). Everything is interrelated and interconnected; the light, the sun, the energy, the forests, the oceans, the air, and the food we eat. At Little Earth we use the Maori mythology to introduce the children to care and respect for our Earth.



The forest is also the bringer of knowledge, Tāne te Wānanga. There is so much to learn. We started our  relationship with Nikau Reserve by exploring our surroundings, going for regular walks.  We began to transfer the care we were giving the plants and animals at our preschool to the plants and insects in Nikau Reserve. We have returned to Nikau reserve many times, each time reflecting on our previous experience, recalling instances of care and discovery. What did we notice?  More observation and sensory exploration, periods of silence, more discoveries, respect and care. We look at fungi, discover whare pungawerewere (spider webs), and find kākano (seedpods). We use our eyes, we use our ears, we use our gentle hands, we smell. We see life everywhere and we know there is more to discover. Nikau Reserve has become a treasure. The forest teaches us!

- Anja

Book source: “In the beginning” by Peter Gossage