Nestled in the heart of Glenavon lies a community hub where connections forged through kai are making a significant difference in people’s lives. Servicing this tightknit West Auckland community, the Glenavon Community Hub has embraced a kai village approach to increase community kai resilience, and to create more pathways for whānau to access affordable, nurturing kai.
Under the leadership of R.J Thomson the Kai Village Coordinator, the hub is cultivating community kai resilience by forming new connections, enhancing partnerships, and integrating strategies like Mana Motuhake o te Kai (MMoTK) into their kai initiatives. Healthy Families Systems Innovator, Rea Kenkel has been working alongside the hub since 2021 and has witnessed the impact the kai village has had on the people of Glenavon.
“The hub has been powered by a dedicated group of community champions who have brought about a lot of positive change. In our collaboration with them, we’ve focussed on building knowledge and skills, and expanding their networks to achieve more support for their community led initiatives.”
Under the umbrella of the kai village, the hub has achieved some remarkable milestones. With support from Sanitarium, they operate a breakfast club for the tamariki at Glenavon School. The Whau Local Board supports pacific language week celebrations, allowing the community to showcase and share their cultural kai. The hub also distributes kai parcels in collaboration with Fair Food and runs the Kai Aroha initiative. Backed by Vision West, this initiative utilises surplus food to cook frozen meals for local whānau, reducing food waste by preventing it from ending up in landfills.
The chance to connect with other hubs in West Auckland like I Love Avondale and Massey Matters has created opportunities to share knowledge, Thomson explains. “Through our connection with the Massey Hub and Nat-Rose Te Hei, I learned to weave a four-point kono (basket) to serve kai, blending ancient wisdom with modern needs. It allowed me to draw on ancestral knowledge to address contemporary issues.”
Central to the Glenavon kai village is Mana Motuhake o te Kai, a mātauranga Māori approach to working with people and kai. “MMoTK awakened a deep sense of connection within me. It provided a sense of place, purpose, vision, and hope. Using MMotK we have created our own tikanga [at the breakfast club] that begins with karakia to bless the kai and start the day. We greet one another with a kia ora and a handshake and through this process we’re building manaakitanga, says Thomson.”
“With support from Healthy Families Waitākere we’ve been devising a structured approach for future growth,” Thomson continues.
Glenavons’ kai village embodies a commitment to nurturing community ties, celebrating cultural heritage, and fostering collaboration. This approach illustrates that by intertwining food, culture, and community, they are creating a more resilient and connected Glenavon.
