Organic Week Aotearoa: Celebrating Soil, Kai & Community

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.

From understanding the magic of dung beetles to decoding food labels, Organic Week offers practical, science‑backed insights into how our food systems work — and how we can support them through everyday choices. Sessions such as What’s Behind the Label?, gut‑health interviews, and the popular Online Organic Café help connect people with experts, growers, and each other.

What Happens During Organic Week?

• Online webinars on soil health, regenerative farming, food labels, and gut health

• Interviews with farmers, scientists, and food advocates

• Organic Field Days where growers open their gates to the public

• Film screenings, including documentaries on regenerative agriculture

• Workshops on composting, gardening, and sustainable living

• Community events and wānanga hosted across the motu by local organisations and growers, including our own Glen Skipper AKA The Kūmara Guy

These events help deepen understanding of how organic practices protect biodiversity, reduce pollution, and build resilience in our food systems.

Spotlight on Taranaki: Local Events & Community Leadership

Taranaki plays a standout role in Organic Week and the wider organic movement. The region is home to award‑winning initiatives such as Te Māra Hapori o Parihaka, which won Community Garden of the Year, and the Taranaki Farmers’ Market, recognised as Farmers’ Market of the Year for its commitment to local organic produce.

While Organic Week’s national programme is largely online, Taranaki’s sustainability community, including our Rautāpatu Foundation, Sustainable Taranaki, local growers, community gardens, and markets, regularly hosts in‑person workshops, garden tours, crop swaps, and educational events throughout the year that align with Organic Week’s kaupapa. Events such as The Big Kai Redesign, the Revive Taranaki Expo, SeedSavers workshops, and Sustainable Backyards activities offer hands‑on learning in composting, seed saving, soil health, and regenerative gardening. These gatherings strengthen community connections and showcase the region’s leadership in sustainable, organic living.

Why Organic Week Matters

Organic Week is more than a calendar event, it’s a reminder that the choices we make every day shape the health of our soil, waterways/wai, climate, and communities. By learning from growers, supporting local markets, and reconnecting with the whenua, New Zealanders help build a kai system that is resilient, regenerative, and fair.

Whether you’re an experienced organic grower or simply curious about where your kai comes from, Organic Week offers inspiration, practical skills, and a sense of belonging within a nationwide movement.