December 5, 2019

Te Puna Market set to sprout in Henderson

A community market is set to sprout in Henderson early next year, with organisers promising a launch day full of family fun and activities.

Te Puna Market will offer fresh produce from local growers, butchers and foodies, set alongside live music, artwork and weekly workshops on everything from making kombucha and composting to Rongoā (traditional Māori medicine).

The idea for Te Puna Market is being brought to life by the Kai West community collective after the neighbourhood’s primary supermarket closed earlier this year. Healthy Families Waitākere Systems Innovator, Michele Eickstaedt, explains.

“Through insights gathered from local community members, we realised the closure of the neighbourhood’s primary supermarket was going to impact community’s ability to access fresh, healthy food. Te Puna Market will help to fill this gap, not only offering a place to purchase and sell fresh produce such as vegetables, meat, milk and fruit, but a place for community to come together, get to know one another and connect.”

The market will support community groups to sell their goods and wares, offering stall space for a small fee alongside community groups and schools fundraising initiatives provided space free of charge. 

The market will operate on the corner of Edmonton Road and Alderman Drive (Falls Park) every Saturday, within 200 metres from where the supermarket once stood. Alongside the site for Te Puna Market lives the EcoMatters Bike Hub and Kakako pop-up gallery, making the corner site a hive of activities for community.

The name for the market, Te Puna, was gifted by the local iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki. As a verb, Puna means to well up or flow. As a noun, it’s a spring of water, a well or a pool. Historically, a Puna was the place people would gather water and during this activity, an important kaupapa (topic, initiative) was to share stores and socialise, similar to conversations that happen when people meet through kai.

Where: Falls carpark, Henderson

When: From 15th February, every Saturday

Time: 7:00am – 1:00pm

About Kai West

Kai West is a collective of organisations embedded in the community, working collaboratively support each other’s ability to grow the local food system by sharing knowledge, building skills and developing communities. Its collective aim with Te Puna Market is to support the community’s ability to access healthy and affordable kai in West Auckland. Partners in this project include Healthy Families Waitākere, WEST, EcoMatters, Massey Matters, MPHS, Community Waitākere made possible through funding from Panuku Development Auckland.