Nurturing Change in the Kai System: Nau Mai e Ngā Hua
Healthy Families Rotorua is dedicated to supporting Rotorua communities in creating positive, sustainable changes within the food system, while embracing cultural connections to kai. We recognise that food is far more than just sustenance – it represents identity, heritage, and knowledge that has been passed down through generations.
In recent efforts, Healthy Families Rotorua has partnered with local kai advocates. These experts have developed workshops aimed at empowering whānau to strengthen their relationships with kai. The workshops have also been shaped by the voices of the community, and have focused on practical skills like māra management, soil health, seed cultivation, and seed saving while also helping participants reconnect with traditional growing practices.
Local kai expert Cushla shared, “This wasn’t just about growing kūmara. It was about reconnecting with the food that’s been part of our whānau for generations. It’s more than just kai, it’s part of who we are.”
Guided by the whakataukī “Nau mai e ngā hua” (Welcome the fruits), these workshops have become a platform for whānau to embrace the rewards of their efforts, both in growing their own kai and in reclaiming the knowledge tied to food cultivation. By revitalising traditional food practices, whānau are starting or expanding their māra, preserving ancient seed varieties, and sharing produce and knowledge with their wider communities. This cycle of empowerment blends traditional wisdom with modern needs, creating sustainable and resilient food systems.
Healthy Families Rotorua’s support extends beyond finding the right expertise to lead workshops and includes offering access to funding and connections to local food projects, allowing whānau to grow their initiatives. These efforts, whether through māra development or broader kai-growing activities, are about rediscovering the value of self-sufficiency and collaboration to sustain whānau and communities.
One recent success story is the development of a fruit forest project in rural Rotorua, in partnership with local iwi and council. This initiative provides fresh, healthy kai to marae, kura, and communities, enhancing whānau access to nutritious food while deepening their understanding of kai’s importance to both physical health and cultural identity.
The whakataukī “Nau mai e ngā hua” symbolises the arrival of positive outcomes from dedicated effort. At the heart of Healthy Families Rotorua’s work is the belief that by nurturing these relationships with kai, we are laying the groundwork for long-lasting, systemic change. Through collective effort, whānau are gaining the skills, knowledge, and resources to make healthier, more sustainable choices.
This journey begins with each whānau, but through community support, we are reshaping the food system for a healthier, more resilient future – welcoming the fruits of our shared labour.
