At its core, Kai Villages is about connection, care, and community leadership. This initiative is more than just about food—it’s about unlocking the potential that already exists within communities, supporting them to share knowledge, strengthen local networks, and shape food systems in ways that are sustainable, culturally grounded, and led by the
people themselves.
The Kai Villages Showcase highlights how West Auckland communities are leading the way in food resilience by:
- Strengthening community leadership in local food initiatives
- Increasing food production through shared gardens and knowledge exchange
- Enhancing connections between organizations, growers, and whānau
- Shifting towards self-determined food security, rather than reliance on external
aid
By fostering relationships, sharing mātauranga Māori, and embracing a collective approach, Kai Villages demonstrates how food systems can be transformed to support long-term community well-being.
The report calls for continued investment in place-based solutions to sustain and grow local resilience.
