Bringing people together through food.

• The act of eating together

• Fruit and vege co-ops and how this model and initiatives impact on the food systems

• Weaving the people

Heria te taura tangata.

Weave the people.

Within our communities there lies remarkable potential—there is power in locals coming together to make transformative change. These pockets of individuals and local stakeholders have the ability to weave the people in their rohe, cultivating the relationships and spaces necessary to make behavioural and structural change.

In this blog we share local insights, and show how collaborative models can act on emerging ideas through common community values around kai.

the act of eating together and value of gathering through food

Eating together, whether with whānau or in community, is a part of who we are. It is how we celebrate with each other, express love towards one another, and connect in a multitude of life-giving ways.

The following report celebrates and brings meaning to the whole process of eating together – from growing and gathering, making and baking, to eating and feasting, bringing to light the richness and opportunities found through the act of sharing kai.

A number of organisations across Aotearoa are working to revitalise the act of bringing people together to enjoy kai and the people before them. In this report we explore ‘eating together as a community’ as a form of food security.

fruit and vege co-ops and how this model and initiatives impact on the food systems

In this report we dive-deeper into ‘Fruit and Vege Co-ops’ across Aotearoa, shining the light on how and why they came to be, and their impact on local food systems.

We explore how they exist now, what makes them great, and what challenges and opportunities they bring to food distribution within our communities.

We spoke with Foodtogether, Wesley Community Action and Toha Kai to explore their models and share some of the wisdom they hold.

weaving the people

When we come together, we amplify our impact. We discover the unsung talents and the immense power of communities in action, as our diverse perspectives and collaborative visions are actualised.

Just as the Māori calendar begins in Pipiri (June/July), so do the frosts that kick in before the new year – and as such Pipiri invites us to 'cling together', particularly during the colder season. May we reach out and cling to the goodness within our communities, resolving some of what is needed amongst us – kai, relationship and connectedness.

Through the bond of oneness and as we move toward the spirit of new beginnings and Matariki, let us prosper while we nurture communities in action. Let us celebrate kotahitanga, champion collaboration, and harness our collective local power. Together, we can weave a difference.

Heria te taura tangata.

Weave the people.