The people of Ōtautahi/Christchurch were once connected by a network of trails, streams and rivers that provided access to areas of natural resources that were shared through kaihaukai, a system that wove together trade, kinship and mahinga kai/food resources. People would travel the region to exchange ngā kai/food that was the best each had to offer and represented the wealth, health and uniqueness of their area.
I ngā wā o mua, i tūhono ai ngā tāngata o Ōtautahi mā ngā ararau, ngā arawai, me ngā awa e tae pai atu rā ki ngā wāhi i reira ngā rauemi ka tohaina mā te kaihaukai, he tikanga i whakakotahi ai i te hohoko, i te whanaungatanga me te mahinga kai. I hāereere ngā tāngata huri noa i te rohe ki te whakawhiti i ā rātou tino kai hei tohu i te whai rawa, i te oranga, i te rerekētanga hoki o ō rātou ake wāhi.
