A cultural and genetic study of the translocation of karaka in Aotearoa

This research uses new sequencing technology to develop molecular markers for use in tracing the translocation history of Corynocarpus laevigatus (karaka in Aotearoa or kōpi on Rekohu/Chatham Islands). The research also involves collecting historic information of karaka/kōpi in the form of korero (oral histories) and rongo/waiata (songs). The regional ethnobotany of the tree in Aotearoa will also be studied. The project benefits include identifying karaka groves for conservation, identifying source population(s) for karaka on Rekohu and determining the source of cultivated and translocated karaka.