Reimagining Our Regional Kai System

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 Many Voices

Together with Josh and Mataiva Robertson from Vaimoana we were humbled to have

over 30 participants join us, representing a beautiful cross-section of our community. Whānau travelled from across the region—from Te Hāwera, Onaero, Ngāmotu, Inglewood, Welbourn, Moturoa, and Waitara.

While our foundations are rooted in Māori values, it was particularly heartening to see a strong presence from our local Pasifika communities.

As indigenous peoples the sharing of knowledge, values and "reflecting together" was a highlight for many . One participant noted how much they enjoyed the session because it was grounded in real collaboration rather than just theory.

Shifting the Dial

The goal for our first wānanga was to introduce basic food system concepts and the importance of mana-centred values. The impact was immediate:

• Growth in Awareness: Before we started, most participants rated their awareness of "Food Systems" as low to moderate . By the time we finished, 84% of respondents rated their awareness as high or very high .

  
  

  Commitment to Action: Our community is ready to move. 13 out of 19 of those who provided feedback left the marae feeling fully committed to taking action in this redesign project.

Values and Visions

Throughout the day, we explored what kai means to our culture, the spiritual links of Mana Kai , and the critical importance of knowing our land and growing our own kai . We also heard clearly that our people want more practical ways to link our community resources together .

He Rakau- illustrating our values, traditions and aspirations.

We had an amazing hākari- fiafia- sharing our kai traditions. We would love you to join us next time!

Looking Ahead to Kurahaupō waka

We are currently weaving all your feedback into our next steps. We aren't jumping straight to solutions yet, as this is a process of redesigning the whole system. However, the next part of this journey will take us around the coast.

Our next wānanga is planned for April 2026 at Te Potaka Marae. We are just confirming the final dates and look forward to continuing this critical mahi with you all.

Register your interest here

Mā te wā,

The Rautāpatu Foundation Team