Healthy Families Rotorua is in the early stages of forming a collective with local iwi to spearhead the cultivation of food forests at marae, kura, and kohanga reo.

Not only will this increase kai security within the community utilising a kai sovereignty approach, but it also has the potential to utilise local mātauranga in the process.

Lead systems innovator, Pirihira Whata, says food forests are designed to mimic natural ecosystems and can provide communities with reliable access to nutritious food.

“Food forests provide a sustainable food source, reducing dependence on external supplies and enhancing food sovereignty. Marae are ideal spaces to champion eco-friendly initiatives like food forests,” she says.

Lead systems innovator Pirihira Whata and Toi te Ora’s Meriana Haldane
pictured at Kaharoa School’s food forest.

“Our recent food forest tour at Kaharoa School sharpened our capacity not only to learn but also to seed and scale such initiatives widely across the rohe effectively.”

Pirihira says unlike conventional agriculture, food forests offer a holistic approach. The layered structure and diverse plantings not only promote biodiversity but also improve soil health and water retention, contributing to the resilience of local food systems.

“By cultivating food forests at our marae, we enhance native biodiversity, create wildlife habitats, and enrich the overall ecological balance of our rohe,” she says.

Pirihira says that food forests can instil a sense of kotahitanga among hapū and iwi, empowering them to embrace sustainable living and activate kaitiakitanga at the same time.