Rautāpatu Rangitaki

As winter settles over Taranaki, the rising of Puanga and Matariki signals the beginning of the Māori new year. For many communities across our region, Puanga is the guiding star — appearing high in the eastern sky before dawn, heralding a time of reflection, connection, and renewal. Together, Puanga and Matariki invite us to pause and acknowledge the cycles of life that shape us. This season begins with remembrance. It is a time to honour our tūpuna and those who have passed

Every year on June 21st World Localisation Day invites us to pause and ask a simple but powerful question: what would it look like if our economies were designed to serve people, place, and the living world — not the other way around? At a time when we are finalising our Kai Resilience Strategy draft, global supply chains feel increasingly fragile, communities everywhere are rediscovering an old truth: resilience begins locally. The food we grow, the skills we share, the rela

World Decarbonisation Day on 25 June is a global call to accelerate the shift towards a low‑carbon future. For many regions, it is a reminder of the scale of the climate challenge. For Taranaki, it is also a reminder of the opportunity we have to lead meaningful change — grounded in our relationship with te Taiao, our whenua, and our wai. Decarbonisation is often spoken about in technical terms: emissions profiles, energy transitions, carbon budgets. But at its heart, it is a

World Environment Day on 5 June is more than a date on the calendar — it is a global reminder that the wellbeing of people and the wellbeing of te Taiao are inseparable. Here in Taranaki, that truth is felt every day. Our whenua, our wai, our ngahere, and our maunga shape who we are, how we live, and the futures we are building for our tamariki. For Rautapatu, this day is an opportunity to reflect on the mahi we do to protect, restore, and uplift the taiao that sustains us. O

World Bee Day on 20 May is a global moment to recognise the importance of bees and other pollinators in keeping ecosystems healthy and food systems resilient. Although the day began as a tribute to the Slovenian beekeeper Anton Janša, it has grown into an international reminder that the wellbeing of pollinators is closely tied to the wellbeing of people, land, and climate. In Aotearoa, the day resonates strongly because pollination underpins so much of our agriculture, biodiv

Organic Week Aotearoa, held every year from 1–10 May, is New Zealand’s biggest celebration of organic living, a time when growers, gardeners, food lovers, and communities come together to explore how healthy soil creates healthy food and healthy people. Led by the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand, the week features a vibrant programme of webinars, interviews, workshops, film screenings, and in‑person events designed to make organic knowledge accessible to everyone.

International Mother Earth Day, observed every year on 22 April, is more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder from the United Nations that the Earth is not simply a resource to be used, but a living system that sustains every aspect of human life. The UN established this observance in 2009 to promote harmony with nature and to recognise that the health of the planet and the wellbeing of people are inseparable. In recent years, the urgency behind this message has only

Taranaki’s kai landscape is rich, diverse, and full of potential — upheld by whānau, hapū, marae, growers, producers, innovators, and community champions who care deeply about the wellbeing of our people and our environment. Now, through The Big Kai Redesign , we have a unique opportunity to weave all of this incredible mahi together into a collective, mana-centred regional strategy. Today, we’re excited to announce a major milestone in this journey: Our region-wide community

Every year on 30 March, the world marks the International Day of Zero Waste, a moment to rethink how we produce, consume, and discard. The idea of “zero waste” can sound ambitious, but at its core it’s about redesigning systems so that waste is prevented rather than managed. Instead of treating rubbish as an inevitable by‑product of modern life, the zero‑waste movement asks us to imagine a world where materials circulate, resources are valued, and nothing is casually thrown a

Taranaki is a region of deep connections, and recently, those connections were made even stronger at Katere ki te Moana Marae . On Saturday, 21 February 2026, the Rautāpatu Foundation hosted the first wānanga of The BIG Kai Redesign . This multi-stage engagement is about more than just food; it is about building a collective, mana-centred regional strategy for Taranaki that supports resilient communities and a thriving local kai system we all feel part of. A Gathering of Man

Every year as summer fades and autumn arrives, Aotearoa turns its attention to the moana. Seaweek , running from late February into early March, is our national celebration of the ocean — a chance to reconnect with the waters that shape our climate, our culture, and our identity. Here in Taranaki , that connection is immediate. The Tasman Sea is never far from sight, sound, or memory. It shapes our weather, our surf culture, our fishing traditions, and the rhythm of daily lif

As we reach the end of 2025, the Rautāpatu team has been reflecting on a year that has been both grounding and energising. The Big Kai Redesign kaupapa has taken root, the foundations are forming, and the vision is becoming clearer with every conversation, every wānanga, and every act of community generosity. This year was about starting well, listening deeply, building trust, and shaping a shared pathway forward. And in that journey, we’ve seen incredible commitment from whā

A Mountain That Shapes Us International Mountain Day is a global celebration of the ecosystems, cultures, and communities connected to mountains. For Taranaki, this day is deeply personal. Taranaki Maunga isn’t just a landmark. It’s an ancestor, a compass, a source of identity, and the beating heart of the region. Its forests, rivers, and alpine ecosystems support life across the entire landscape. This day invites us to honour the maunga and reflect on our role as kaitiaki. T

The Ground Beneath Our Feet: Why Soil Health Matters in Taranaki World Soil Day is a global reminder that the health of our soil underpins the health of everything else — our food systems, our waterways, our biodiversity, and our communities. Here in Taranaki, where rich volcanic soils have shaped generations of growers, farmers, and gardeners, this day carries a special significance. Our whenua is alive. It breathes, transforms, and sustains us. And like any living system, i

In November 2025, the gates of Katere ki te Moana Marae opened for a pōwhiri that marked much more than a three-day event. It was the beginning of a profound journey—a coming together of people from across the globe to share collective wisdom, knowledge, and expertise in support of indigenous-led development. A Circle of Collective Wisdom While the world often looks at development through a narrow, clinical lens, our gathering was built on Whakawhanaungatanga —the intentiona

On 26 November 2025, the world marks World Sustainable Transport Day , a United Nations observance established in 2023 to highlight the role of safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . This year’s event is particularly significant as it precedes the launch of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026–2035) . For New Zealand, and organisations like Rautāpatu, working on sustainability, the Da

Reimagining Kai for a Stronger, Healthier Community World Food Day is a global call to transform the way we grow, share, and consume food. Here in Aotearoa, that message resonates deeply, especially as communities work to build resilience, reduce waste, and ensure everyone has access to nutritious kai. Our vision The Big Kai Redesign , a community‑driven initiative aiming to reshape how food is grown, distributed, and valued, is not just for today, but for future generations.

Guardians of a Living Taonga: Why NZ Wildlife Matters More Than Ever World Wildlife Day is a global moment to celebrate the species that share our planet — but here in Aotearoa, it carries a special weight. Our wildlife is unlike anything else on Earth. After millions of years of isolation, New Zealand became home to birds that forgot how to fly, ancient reptiles that outlived the dinosaurs, and forests that hum with life found nowhere else. Yet these taonga now face some of

Rautapatu’s Big Kai Redesign: Honouring the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Today, 29 September 2025, marks the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW), a global moment to reflect on how we produce, consume, and value food. At Rautāpatu, this kaupapa resonates deeply with our mission to transform food systems through indigenous wisdom, community-led innovation, and sustainable design. As the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the

Defashion is more than recycling... it is about thinking about source and end-of life for textiles. Anyone who knows me knows... I love...

Repair Festival Aotearoa NZ: Celebrating Community, Sustainability, and Innovation 6-14 September 2025 At Rautāpatu, we are committed to...

Spring in Taranaki is a time of renewal, the whenua breathes, the gardens stir, and the urge to declutter rises with the sun. From 2–6...

The 8th edition of the Adaptation Futures Conference [AF2025] is set to take place in Ōtautahi Christchurch, from 13 to 16 October 2025....

Earth Overshoot Day marks the moment when humanity’s demand on ecological resources exceeds what the planet can regenerate in a year. In...