Miracle plant survives Cyclone Pat
“The Tiare Maori has intrinsic medicinal as well as economic benefit therefore people should be encouraged to plant it as part of their environment”

Amid all the destruction and devastation of foliage and plants following the cyclone in Aitutaki, one amazing story about one plant has emerged which has people mystified as to the mystery of its survival considering other similar plants were either completely destroyed or “burnt in the process” (leaves turning brown and stripped off trees). The Tiare Maori, scientifically referred to as the gardenia titensis or commonly referred to as the national flower of the Cook Islands, survived against all odds.
So why is there propensity for this plant to survive under extreme conditions and yet, 3 days after cyclone Pat devastated Aitutaki, the Tiare Maori was in full bloom, remaining green in its splendour and aquiesent colour green and gracing a landscape equivalent to the aftermath of a war zone, standing out as the only form of positive plant life amongst an environment of trees and shrubs stripped completely of its lifeblood.
Is there some scientific or logical explanation to this phenomena or is this a miracle intended to make us think and reconsider our future strategies in terms of plant rehabilitation and survival in future for our sister islands.
A drive around Aitutaki post cyclone Pat reveals that the Tiare Maori plant was one of the very few plants that survived under the most torrid of conditions and continues to bloom and rejuvenate today. Why is this so one might ask, when it has similar leaf structures and characteristics to our orange and lemon trees. Is there something special apart from its medicinal qualities and natural beauty that we are unaware of or is it simply that we have overlooked the Tiare Maori as a resilient plant, capable of surviving under extreme weather conditions and potentially should be considered as part of a national re-growth project to protect our environmentally fragile landscape.
In 2004, the Takuvaine mamas initiated a Tiare Maori Community Development pilot scheme involving the margotting and planting of the Tiare Maori around the village as a future economic incentive. The intention was to build a nursery and start planting in all of the homes and around the commercial centre so that everyone could have access to the Tiare Maori plant.
At the time, tourism was on the increase and there was talk of the Sheraton hotel being completed. This pilot project was created to encourage the mamas from the other villages to do the same thereby creating employment and providing an economic base through the selling of eis and flowers to the tourists, resorts and general public. Unfortunately due to the lack of support, the scheme fell by the wayside.
Today, there is not enough Tiare Maori on the island. Perhaps this miracle plant could provide the incentive for authorities and people in the villages, to start the margotting process again with a view to encouraging re-growth on an otherwise barren landscape.
The Tiare Maori has certainly proved its weight in gold as the most popular flower and because there is a shortage on the island to accommodate the tourist/ visitor groups, people have resorted to providing other flowers as a substitute.
So how does this relate to cyclone Pat? Well, it’s obvious this plant was one of the very few that survived and its continuing survival should make authorities particularly environmentalist and agricultural people, rethink their strategies in terms of what kind of plants to grow following natural disasters. The Tiare Maori has intrinsic medicinal as well as economic benefit therefore people should be encouraged to plant it as part of their lifestyle environment.
Wearing of the Tiare Maori makes you feel “at one” with our environment and apart from the taunts and jovial humour as to how it is worn, the Tiare Maori has proven that its survival is something we should seriously think about and not take for granted in future.