Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina.

Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.

Nga mihi maioha to the power of the collective – a journey of hope and change

It has been an incredible privilege to journey with you all during these last four years of the Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective, as we’ve explored our shared purpose, partnerships, and deep relationships to create meaningful systemic change around food security.

Together we have been able to dream big, pursue hope and use our imaginations to understand the possibilities of realising a food secure Aotearoa – all through the midst of a major health crisis, recession and significant climate events.

Together we have amplified voices and advocated for those facing adversity, listened carefully, and drawn on community wisdom to speak truth to power. It has been an extraordinary exploration of our food and economic systems and the role Kore Hiakai can play!

Thank you to all for bringing hope, working towards change, and for the power of our collective.

our new journey

Over the last three months of 2023 Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective started the transition of becoming a stand-alone entity. During March we formed the Kai Rawa Trust, appointed Trustees, applied for charitable status and laid the foundations for a new way forward. 

On 30 June we will say thanks and farewell to our organisational host New Zealand Council for Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) and the 5 other foundational partners that brought us into being.

Helen Robinson, chair of Kore Hiakai, shares a message of gratitude:

“It is with deepest appreciation we acknowledge the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services for the immeasurable support they’ve provided over these first years of Kore Hiakai. Their shared belief in our vision for a food secure Aotearoa has been a source of inspiration and we are grateful for the opportunity to have been associated with such extraordinary people. As we embark on the next chapter of our collective journey, we carry with us the deep commitment and care we experienced under their guidance. While our organisational connection may change, the profound impact of NZCCSS on Kore Hiakai, the mahi we advocate for and our commitment to collaborate for justice will endure. ‘Thank you’ does not seem enough… We mihi to your graciousness for holding us. It has been phenomenal.”

To the six foundation partners: New Zealand Council for Christian Social Services (NZCCSS), Te Tāpui Atawhai Auckland City Mission (ACM), The Salvation Army New Zealand Te Ope Whakaora (TSA), Wellington City Mission (WCM), Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga (Visionwest) and Christchurch City Mission Te Whare Mihana Ki Ōtautahi (CCM) – thank you for being the thought leadership of this movement. To all who have served in this space from each of those partner organisations across these last four years – ngā mihi maioha!

We acknowledge you for being bold enough to question yourselves, for taking big risks, and for your willingness to both challenge and work with government so that there are resources to feed people in the immediate crises, without ignoring the hard mahi or addressing the root causes, of food-related poverty. Tihei mauri ora!

We couldn’t have done any of this without our funding partners over the last four years – Peter Mckenzie Project, Ministry of Social Development, Todd Foundation, Food Bank Project (Salvation Army and Countdown), and the Lloyd Morrison Foundation - who have all help enable the incredible mahi and partnerships along the way. Nga mihi nui.

As we come to this transition, we also farewell and mihi to Sonya Cameron, Sophie McCarthy and Tammie Stroman for the incredible contribution they have made as kaimahi whānau.

mihi to sonya cameron

This month: living out sdg#2 and realising food secure communities in aotearoa

Food for thought as we mihi to our colleague and friend Sonya Cameron, Kairangahau – Researcher.  

Sonya has been with Kore Hiakai since December 2019 when she first came on secondment from MSD. Championing a national system for food rescue, she laid the foundations for both the New Zealand Food Network and the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance. When she returned to MSD to manage the food response during COVID lockdown, her allyship and strong connection to community food helped shape our government’s response. Amazing trailblazing!

Sonya’s tireless commitment to making sure the voice of community is heard, and for seeking community-led solutions, meant it was an easy transition for her last June to join Kore Hiakai for a year-long research project that has resulted in the incredible localities report ‘Realising Food Secure Communities in Aotearoa.’

We are grateful for Sonya’s relentless research skills, her passion for Te Tiriti led processes, her knowledge of the international food scene, her curiosity of circular economics and her extensive relationships across the food system – from her local crop swap group to high level government officials. Arohanui as you step into the next piece of your journey Sonya!

If you haven’t already, download a copy of the report here.

mihi to sophie mccarthy

This month: Pipiri (June) – a time to dig deeper and cling together

As we step into Pipiri and the first frosty lunar month of the Māori year, we cling tight to those departing and give a warm mihi to Sophie McCarthy. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be graced with the wit, curiosity and care of Sophie McCarthy within the Kore Hiakai whānau.

With deep roots in the rural sector, Sophie’s commitment to the land, the people that work and care for it, and all that lives within it has helped reshape our outlook and understanding. Collaborative solutions with a profound wondering about possibility and unphasable personality has meant Sophie has tried anything we have thrown at her and discovered amazing things in unlikely places.

Wisdom beyond her years, with a cheeky freshness, and a passion to learn intently from Te Ao Māori, Sophie has built relationships and encountered knowledge across Aotearoa and the food sectors as Kaihononga – Networker for Kore Hiakai.

We wish you well Sophie, as you cast yourself off from these shores into the big wide world. Take our aroha with you as a constellation of stars so that you may know you always belong to this diverse community in the deep southern ocean.

Read the latest sector insights and reports Sophie explored, or check out our June systems blog on the power of local and community initiatives.

mihi to tammie stroman

this month: honouring good kai, nutrition and a friend

We take this moment to mihi to our Kaituitui Kōrero – Weaver of Stories, Tammie Stroman, and to think about her impact on our mahi space.

Tammie came to Kore Hiakai after the first 2020 COVID Lockdown to do a favour for a friend. Only intending to stay a few months, this mahi captured her heart and enticed her to stay. Initially the Kairangahau – Researcher on the ‘What is a Food Parcel’ research project, the Aotearoa Food Parcel Measure, the Nutritional Guide, and a series of resources to help community food distributors have a consistent way to count, compile, balance and measure food parcels with good nutritional adequacy, Tammie has changed the practice of community food distribution in Aotearoa.

Tammie has also been the voice of Kore Hiakai crafting pānui, champion pieces, systemic blogs, press releases, our social media presence and shaping the website. Blending her activism with advocacy, her creative writing with research, holding lived experience alongside hard data, Tammie has championed food security and a vision where all have enough to thrive.

We are grateful for your passion, your care, for your deep commitment to Te Tiriti, and your authenticity to your own story. We mihi to you, Tammie, for holding our voice so strongly, for challenging and encouraging us, and for always inviting others to join us on this journey. Thank you for sharing these past three years with love. Our aroha surrounds you and holds you.

Check your compilation practice for nutritional adequacy by using this guide. Or think about joining the movement and onboard as an organisation that compiles and counts with nutritional adequacy, adding to this dashboard.

our next way of being

Our mahi will continue to be focused around collaboratively addressing the root causes of food related poverty and striving for a food secure Aotearoa. 

We step into this next way of being wrapped in a structure that is intentionally committed to a Te Tiriti framework, alongside a deep commitment to our tuakana from across Pasifika communities. Our mahi, and our organisational structures will strive to honour our three cultural streams - Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti and Tangata Moana nui a Kiwa. 

We have the privilege of being guided on our journey by our Trustees – Helen Robinson chair (Te Atiawa), Alannah Marriott (Ngati Porou) and Brook Turner (Tangata Tiriti), and the kaimahi team Tony Fuemana, Moko Morris, Kaea Tibble, Jennie Sim and Tric Malcolm, with Tammie Stroman initially joining us for a brief period as an impact player.

In the first 3 Months our mahi will be focused on: 

1. Our Māori Kai Sovereignty paper - delivered in three parts. Moko Morris and Kaea Tibble;

2. Ka Mākona update - focused on Pasifika populations. Tony Fuemana and Jennie Sim;

3. Developments with the Mana Kai framework (with Eat NZ, Aotearoa Circle and others). This will eventually include ways for others to get involved. Tric Malcolm and Moko Morris;

4. Alongside all this we will be doing our usual connecting and championing of amazing local food security;

5. As well as launching the process of how to become part of the Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective.

At the end of June, Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective are taking a 2-week break. When we return our journey continues, guided by the Kai Rawa Trust. Please note we will be closed from 1-16 July 2023. You may also notice a new set of email handles as we step into our own space (the old ones will still work for a little while).

We are grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey over the last four years – there are many of you. This has been a journey achieved together and we look forward to how we continue to do that, inviting even more into this space to create the change we long for.

If you haven’t already, consider signing this petition to help fix the food systems and develop a national food strategy for Aotearoa! Also look out for Emily King’s new book Re-Food – which helps us to look at our food system and how it could function so all can thrive.

We believe we have a dynamic future together where all people always have agency and access to nourishing, affordable, culturally appropriate kai - making a food secure Aotearoa for all.

Nau mai, haere mai! We welcome you all to join us!

Nga mihi,

Kore Hiakai

Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina.

Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.