Eighty-five-year-old Tiny Metzger has been making pōhā (bull kelp bags) for as long as he can remember. The bull kelp and tōtara bark food storage container is an innovation at least 100 years ahead of its time. For Tiny and his whānau making pōhā is an annual tradition as they prepare to head to the Tītī Islands for the birding season.

Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai is a lifestyle series featuring 12 ten minute episodes filmed in the stunning landscape of Te Waipounamu. It captures the stories and essence of traditional food gathering practices passed down through the generations.

The series offers a window into the lives of Ngāi Tahu whānau carrying on the food gathering traditions of their ancestors – from tūna and pātiki on the east coast, medicinal rongoā plants in the north and kanakana in the far south. Through our characters we explore the evolution of the practice – its past, present and future and we learn about the species and their natural environment.