‘If you caught a big load of fish, you would feed everyone that can’t be there, like the old people who can’t fish. Mostly everyone just took what they could eat, but if they caught more they would give it out. That was the practise then.’ 

Mere Tomoana nō Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngati Pāhauwera

Sharing kai with the wider whanau and community was more common than trade or exchange. Food was informally distributed. When gatherers had more than they needed, they ‘dropped off’ to those who were older, or who were not able to get their own. Cash or money was not spoken of as was the expectation of receiving anything in return. Giving, was not out of obligation, but because you were in a position to. All of our Mana whenua interviewees remember ‘having plenty’.