Kareao

Climb like this forest vine!

Kareao, supplejack, Ripogonum scandens

The thick, black scrambling vines of kareao are a distinctive feature of the New Zealand bush. They twist, bind, and climb from the forest floor into the canopy, forming dense, tangled networks. Moving through areas of kareao requires climbing, twisting, ducking, and pulling - a full-body negotiation with the forest.

In Māori tradition, kareao grew from the tail of Tunaroa, the monstrous eel god. After Māui defeated Tunaroa, his blood was scattered across birds and plants, giving them red colouring. His head became the marine eels, his tail the freshwater eels, and the very tip of that tail took root in the forest to become the supplejack vine.

For Māori, kareao was a highly valued material. Its strong, pliable stems were used to bind structures, lash canoes and platforms, weave baskets, and make hīnaki (eel and crayfish traps). In the growing season, kareao vines cangrow up to five centimetres a day — almost fast enough to watch!

The ropes and nets of this play structure echo the strength and flexibility of kareao. Like the vine in the forest, it encourages climbing, weaving, balancing, and nesting through an entangled, space.