Taking a village approach to improve food security
When community partners came together last year to share experiences and ideas around strengthening food resilience and growing a healthy food future in West Auckland, several underlying themes shone through – all focused on taking a village approach. This idea of building a ‘kai village’ is now at the heart of a new initiative in […]
Reimagining Te Puna Market for fresh, affordable kai
Launching just six weeks before the first Covid-19 lockdown, Henderson’s Te Puna Market has faced the ups and downs of trading under Covid restrictions. Now, more than two years later, organisers are embarking on a community engagement process to help reimagine the market to meet local needs. Te Puna Market was launched by Kai West, a […]
Delta delivering new challenges for food providers
Lack of access to storage and facilities and lack of direct supply for local distributors and manufacturers are just some of the issues facing emergency food providers in West Auckland. Healthy Families Waitākere and Community Waitākere recently reached out to food relief providers in West Auckland to evaluate their experiences throughout the current lockdown. Issues that saw little change […]
Growing community commitment to a nourishing food future for West Auckland
Community access to fresh, affordable kai and identifying pathways for building a sustainable, nourishing food future was the focus for close to 70 people who came together from across West Auckland last month. Held at Te Manawa Community Hub, the Future of Food event provided the opportunity for community and organisations to share experiences and […]
Kai Sovereignty in Waitākere
Having nourishing, healthy food throughout our lifetime is critical to being healthy and well. Yet for many communities across Waitākere, accessing affordable and healthy food can be difficult or out of reach entirely. In West Auckland, a roopu (group) of organisations and community members is currently exploring what food sovereignty means for West Auckland Māori […]
Kai West Collective and Te Puna Market
Early last year, we were asked by Inspiring Communities to share the story of the Kai West collective and Te Puna Market. In this clip, hear Food Systems Innovator Michele Eickstaedt talk through this journey.
School Eats available to West Auckland schools through Lunch Programme
Every child deserves access to healthy food every day, and the Governments rollout of the Ka Ora Ka Ako – Healthy School Lunches programme is set to support more West Auckland whānau. School Eats has been confirmed as a supplier of Ka Ora Ka Ako, under model B. Under model B, School Eats can […]
Another successful year for The Kitchen Project
Since 2018, budding chefs in West Auckland have been learning the fundamental skills to turn their favourite recipes into successful food-business ventures. Through The Kitchen Project, participants have access to licenced commercial kitchen facilities, a one on one mentorship programme, alongside practical business training and planning advice. Although slightly adapted to meet the COVID-19 guidelines, […]
Free Food Forum continues in West Auckland
As New Zealanders, we believe in fairness and compassion. We want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive. But right now, some communities are doing much better than others based on factors such as where they live and how much they earn. Access to healthy and affordable food is critical for healthy and well whānau […]
The success of West Auckland’s Covid-19 response
Throughout 2020, Aotearoa has seen unprecedented efforts of community working together. The most visible, the team of five million, endured a series of stringent restrictions on daily life to prevent further loss of life to COVID-19. Below the surface, there were extraordinary collective efforts underway – small and large, actioned to protect unique communities across […]
