The Earth’s climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.

The evidence for rapid climate change is compelling:

Global Temperature Rise
Warming Oceans
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Glacial Retreat
Decreased Snow Cover
Sea Level Rise
Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Extreme Events
Ocean Acidification

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In Wellington we have lost 95 percent of our original forest cover. Wellington City Council is committed to helping restore Te Korowai a Tane – the cloak of Tane. We are replanting the city’s natural and bush areas with native plants and trees.
You can help.

By using native plants in your garden, you can:
• preserve native species, some of which are threatened
• enhance the appearance of your garden
• reduce the amount of care and water your garden needs
• provide homes for native wildlife.
Plants that are adapted to local conditions often need less care and attention. They’ll be hardier and more likely to survive than plants from other areas and that makes them lower maintenance.
By maintaining links between your garden and nearby bush and other ecosystems, you can provide a ‘green corridor’ for birds and other wildlife.
If you plant a range of shrubs, climbers, and ground covers that provide shelter and all-year-round fruit, seeds and nectar, you’ll have a higher
chance of attracting native birds, lizards and insects.

Link

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Tea is part of Chinese culture and has the effect of healing and adjust emotions. Different teas have different tastes, sweetness, bitterness, richness and lightness. Chinese tea is made from tea trees at different baking times to produce black tea, green tea, black tea and white tea. Many local plants in New Zealand (Manuka/ Kawakawa/ Rush lawyer…) also have a history of making tea.

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The intervention focus on artwork. The location test was in Botanical Garden Otari-Wilton’s Bush which find real native plants to test. Comparing with the Manuka tree through the screen, the real tree coincides with the fake tree. Manuka can be made not only as honey but also as tea. Think about the feeling of modern Chinese tea house blending into native plants. People’s curiosity about the screen plants may help protect and use native plants.

On November 1, 2017, we Ippodo Gallery had a tea ceremony in Central Park! Its design is created by producer and architect Mr Kuniji Tsubaki. His concept of “ZEN-An” is to create a portable space of traditional Japanese tea using only the best craftsmanship of Japan. All of this fits into a compact, suitcase.

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China Camellia sinensis

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INTRODUCE:

Camellia sinensis ( pronounced cam-MEHL-ee-ah sin-INN-sis) is the plant used to make teas, including white tea, green tea, oolong, black tea, yellow tea, and Pu-erh.

The tea plant is thought to have originated near the Yunnan region of China. The name Camellia sinensis is Latin for “Chinese camellia.” Due to its connection with the beverage, this plant is also commonly referred to as a tea plant, tea bush, or tea tree.

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub tree that thrives in forest areas. The leaves are glossy green with serrated edges and are very similar in shape and size to a bay leaf.

https://www.thespruce.com/camellia-sinensis-definition-765682

NZ local tea plants

Kawakawa – Macropiper excelsa

Kūmarahou – Pomaderris kumeraho

Mānuka – Leptospermum scoparium 

Bidibid – Acaena anserinifolia

Korokia – Corokia spp.

Cinese tea in NZ

Camellia sinensis

Mānuka Tea – Leptospermum scoparium 

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INTRODUCE:

Mānuka, also known as leptospermum scoparium, kahikātoa and New Zealand tea tree is a prolific evergreen shrub that is native to New Zealand.

Most commonly known throughout the world for the mānuka honey that is made from this nectar, mānuka has a long and rich history with the people of Aotearoa. Thanks to the wide-ranging healing properties that mānuka possesses, the native Māori had many traditional uses for mānuka and kānuka.

When Captain James Cook travelled around New Zealand in the early 1800s, his crew were suffering from scurvy. To remedy the condition, he made a strong brew of tea using leaves from the mānuka tree. This is how mānuka got the name ‘tea tree’.

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Mānuka/kahikātoa is common throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands in lowland to low alpine regions up to 1800 m above sea level.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/manuka-kahikatoa-and-kanuka/

https://manukaessentials.com/pages/what-is-manuka