..................................................................................................................................... i Glossary of Maaori Terms used in the thesis .......................................................................... iv List of Tables..............................................................................................................................xi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................xv Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................xix Chapter 1 – Introduction ..........................................................................................................1 1.1 About Freycinetia banksii ...................................................................................1 1.2 Distribution..........................................................................................................3 1.3 Reproduction Strategies – sexual and vegetative reproduction...........................4 1.4 The cultural importance of kiekie – background to the research ........................6 1.5 Research questions and objectives ......................................................................10 Chapter 2 – Sites and experimental methods..........................................................................13 2.1 Experimental field sites .......................................................................................13 2.1.1 Te Kotuku Whakaoka (MOA).................................................................15 2.1.2 Kaimai Ranges (KAI)..............................................................................16 2.1.3 Selection of kiekie by weavers and harvesters ........................................17 2.2 Experimental methodology..................................................................................19 2.2.1 Harvesting treatments ..............................................................................20 2.2.2 Collection of data ....................................................................................22 Chapter 3 – Effects of harvest at the patch-level and the stem-level (In situ measurements) ..............................................................................................................24 3.