Kaitahi Native Superfood Company sells a frozen blend of fruit, vegetables, seeds, kūmara, pūhā and kawakawa (and a bit of rewarewa honey) which you shake with liquid to make an instant smoothie.

In May this year, they launched three flavours – Triple Berry Protect, Kiwi C Boost and Super Green Zing.

At present Kaitahi smoothies are only available in selected cafes in Auckland and Waikato, but early next year the business hopes to be supplying a major supermarket chain.

When that happens, some of the thousands of kawakawa plants sitting in a local nursery will need to be planted out, plantation style, so the pickers have an easier time gathering in the years to come.

But for now, kawakawa is gathered by four workers every Thursday and Friday.

For some, it's valuable employment when they were previously struggling to get full-time work.

Jason Parkinson, who until now has been a stay at home dad for his 14-year-old son, loves working in the bush collecting the leaves.

"It's all good. This is where it starts, out in the bush picking the kawakawa.

"It's taonga."

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