Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati.

When a reed stands on its own it can easily break, but a group of reeds together bend in the prevailing wind.

Over this last month we have adjusted to spring with days lengthening, warmth and a bit more sun, although the rain has stayed for many. As we moved into life with the certainty of a new government, in whatever form it takes, we are adjusting too - like to a change in season.

In the changing of seasons it is important to remind ourselves to be gentle; to let go of that which needs to be shed and to welcome in the new growth. So it is with relationships, and as our new government begins to engage across sectors there is much to be excited and curious about as well as to be tentative, cautious and protective, as we develop and expand our relationships as people take on new leadership roles.

Some of us may be concerned about some of the proposals, including cutbacks, made during the election campaign in regard to the community sector and other aspects of our life together. This is a time to know we are experts of our communities, to engage in conversation, and to reach out to each other for solidarity and care. Our kotahitanga comes from this kaupapa of food security - of wanting all in Aotearoa to have enough good kai to thrive. May our grounding in compassion for the wellbeing of our people and our planet remain firm as we invite our new government to uplift the same values.

Remembering our central value of mana centred practice brings us into relationship, connection and kotahitanga across the community and food sector. There is much work still to be done, and we will continue to do it, together. It is also all the little things that we do, along side the decisions made by government, that make a difference.

May our actions and connectedness bring hope, and help us to remember our vision of a mana centred food system and a food secure Aotearoa for all to thrive.

all the tiny little things - an invitation to share

As we move towards the end of the year and the Christmas chaos, this is a beautiful time to take notice of all the many little wonderful things that contribute to towards a food secure Aotearoa - when they’re all woven together. Over the next month we invite you to notice those things, to take a photo and post it on our facebook page here. We invite you to especially notice those things that celebrate coming together, collaboration, those low or no cost moments – your street pātaka kai, your volunteers, seedlings growing, shared compost, the morning tea time at your fruit & veggie co-op, lemons shared across a neighbourhood and more ...

western bay of plenty - mana to mana workshop
We’re excited to be offering this workshop again - this time in the Western BOP!

Come join us on Wednesday 29 November 9.30 – 12.30, at Good Neighbour Trust. Followed by a simple lunch. Register here: Mana to Mana WBOP Nov 23

launch of ka mākona 2023

Kore Hiakai are proud to announce the launch of our 2023 edition of Ka Mākona: a report into income adequacy and the cost of living, on Tuesday 21 November, 2023.

Watch out for a copy in your email, or on our social media channels. You can also check out the previous reports for 2021 and 2022.

farewell to tony

In mid-October we farewelled Tony Fuemana for the Kore Hiakai kaimahi team as he moved across to Auckland City Council as a Senior Pacific Advisor. His ancestors were calling him to uplift the voices of Pacific People in that space, and we tautoko him as he brings his depth of connections and understanding to his new role.

We are grateful for all Tony gifted to Kore Hiakai, the time he has spent with so many across the motu, the care he has taken to hold the stories of many communities and the way he has upheld the voice of Pacific People within Kore Hiakai. It is hard to leave Kore Hiakai behind. He has already found ways to be a champion for Kore Hiakai in his new role. Our love goes with you Tony. Fakaaue Lahi!

community food

• Te Whatu Ora Whakatū / Nelson Marlborough have some fantastic resources on their website. One is an easy to follow planting Maramataka resource, another is an easy to follow ‘Meal in Minutes’ made with non-perishable food (cans and packets). They are easy to make with very little kitchen facilities and are nutritious.

• Taranaki Waitara Pātaka Kai, Check out the collaboration between Waitara Pataka Kai and local council, where whānau cooking classes are helping make food parcels go further, as well as helping whānau know how to spend less each week on kai.

• Watch this episode of Country Calendar which champions mahinga kai and Canterbury farmers shaping their practices around Te Ao Māori on their waterways and farming frames. You will need TVNZ on demand to watch it.

• Check out @street harvest on socials or this post on LinkedIn to see to take a little step towards local food security. One berm at a time, one street at a time, one community at a time.

• Be inspired by Kai Co-op in the Hawkes Bay as after the weather event community responds by creating pathways for affordable kai through a kai box. In partnership with Hapī Cafe the group known as kai Co-op, featured here, wanted to create something that was not only accessible and sustainable, but a programme that aims to support and educate whānau to grow and cook nutritious food.

systems change

• We are all eaters. How might we connect ourselves to our farming food production? This article from Daniel Eb in Farmers Weekly is the first of a series of conversations encouraging city dwellers to see the people within our local food systems and connect in more meaningful ways.

• In a similar frame, check out Eat NZ who recently released their Mana Centred Local Food Frame.

• Check out the recent Fincap report amplifying the voices of whānau across Aotearoa who live with limited income. It offers insight around financial wellbeing, income, expenditure and debt.

• Inspiring podcast from the Seeds not conference on debt, poverty and the economy featuring Shamubeel Eaqub, Helen Robinson and Sasha Lockley.

• Inspiring reading by Sascha Haselmayer about systems change and why real change comes through the slow way built on connection. Definitely a book club moment.

A huge mihi to everyone across Aotearoa doing the mahi to bring us towards a mana centred food system and a food secure Aotearoa. Remember it’s all the tiny little things, and it is all of us together, that will make this happen. Let’s create a movement committed to a Food Secure Aotearoa.

Mauri ora, from the Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective whānau.

Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati.

When a reed stands on its own it can easily break, but a group of reeds together bend in the prevailing wind.