Teams dedicated to promoting healthy and active learning environments are excited to explore initiatives in West Auckland, particularly Mana Motuhake o te Kai and Kāhui Kai Maara.
Five members of the Waikato Healthy Active Learning team, located in Te Whatu Ora, paid a visit to the Sport Waitākere office to learn more about these initiatives, their community backing, and future objectives.
During their visit, the team had the opportunity to tour the Don Buck community gardens, led by community champion Augustine Kopa. Augustine shared how tamariki are involved in the garden’s development, from scattering seed through to harvesting and regularly share their vision and ideas for the community garden as a whole. Curtis continues.
“The purpose of kāhui kai māra is to teach tamariki about kai from seedling to consumption, embed mātauranga māori and use kai to connect community. We are excited to have been able to witness it’s development up to this point, and look forward to watching where tamariki will take it in future.”
Members of the Healthy Families Waitākere team, Mike Tipene and Giuliana Sewell, took the opportunity to showcase the journey of Mana Motuhake o te Kai. They traced its inception back to the COVID-19 lockdowns and highlighted the upcoming launch of an official toolkit designed for those working with Māori whānau and hapū. Tipene continues.
“Although the Mana Mohuhake o te Kai plan was created by West Auckland Māori to address Māori food security here in West Auckland, the plan can be implemented and understood beyond the regional boundaries of West Auckland. We hope our hui with Healthy Active Learning Waikato has inspired new ideas and ways of working with their hāpori.”
