The Big Kai
Redesign
Reimagining Food Systems in Taranaki
Nau mai, Haere Mai... Welcome
Taranaki’s kai space is rich with a diversity of thriving initiatives upheld by whānau, hapū, local and business communities.
The BIG Kai Redesign is a mana-centred, kaupapa-led initiative honouring mātauranga Māori to collectively strengthen the flow of kai and nurture the wellbeing of people, their whakapapa, and Te Taiao.
Marae Wānanga Series
Wānanga Two
Date: Saturday 11 April (time tbc)
Venue: Te Potaka Marae
If you would like to attend this wānanga, please register your interest here.
Launch Wānanga
We held our launch wananga on Saturday 21 February 2026, at Katere ki te Moana Marae, read about the event here.
What is The BIG Kai Redesign?
This research and discovery initiative is about weaving together the many existing kai efforts across Taranaki into one collective regional strategy. It is founded on:
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Mana-Centred Values: Elevating cultural identity, dignity, and spiritual connection to kai.
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Circular & Regenerative Systems: Embracing innovative kai models that respect Te Taiao, eliminate waste, and support long-term sustainability.
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Community Empowerment: A collaborative, inclusive process drawing on the wisdom and aspirations of hapū, whānau, and food system kaitiaki.
Our research has told us thus far that we need to address real challenges of affordability, environmental harm, and inequity; with solutions grounded in indigenous knowledge and innovation.
Our Phased Engagement Journey
The BIG Kai Redesign unfolds through a multi-stage engagement plan complemented by surveys, marae assessments, wānanga and interviews. We plan to cover the following themes:
1. Foundations: Articulating shared values, kai systems knowledge, and mapping current initiatives.
2. Exploration: Building a deeper understanding of circular economy and localised opportunities.
3. Co-Design: Framing collaborative development of strategic kai actions.
4. Reflection: Reviewing, refining and adopting a collective mana-centred strategy.
This phased approach provides clarity and honours existing mahi by weaving them together rather than overlapping or replacing them.
Importantly, participating in The BIG Kai Redesign will contribute to broader goals of climate resilience, community wellbeing, and indigenous-led innovation.
If you'd like to contribute, you can;
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Attend our wānanga series;
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Complete the region-wide survey (online survey link will be available soon);
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Encourage your marae to participate by hosting a wānanga and completing a marae assessment (to help understand where resources are, gaps and flow of kai and the potential of collaboration); and
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Share your stories, knowledge in our 'food system' interviews.
Every voice enriches this kaupapa.
Let's do a deep dive into kai...
Our kai is more than food ~ it connects us to the whenua, our tūpuna, and future generations. The Big Kai Redesign is a movement to restore mana and mauri to our kai systems, blending indigenous wisdom with innovative circular economy approaches for a resilient, thriving Taranaki.
Definition
Use of ‘Kai’ and ‘Food’ in this Project
In this project, the term ‘kai’ is used deliberately as an aspirational concept that embodies more than just food. Kai represents a vital source of life, cultural identity, and connection that nurtures the wellbeing of people, their whakapapa, and their environment. It honours Māori values, tikanga, and mātauranga, reflecting the relational and holistic nature of indigenous food systems.
In contrast, the term ‘food’ is used in places to reflect the current mainstream status or general understanding within wider contexts and systems. While ‘food’ typically refers to consumables in a commercial or industrial setting, ‘kai’ conveys the deeper cultural, spiritual, and environmental relationships sought through the redesign of our local food systems.
By intentionally distinguishing between ‘kai’ and ‘food’, this project aims to elevate indigenous perspectives and frame kai systems as regenerative, mana-centred, and deeply connected to te Taiao and whanaungatanga, supporting long-term health and resilience for our communities and environment.
About the Project
The Big Kai Redesign is a collaborative kaupapa led by The Rautāpatu Foundation and supported by our research partners: The Bioeconomy Science Institute AgResearch and Pūrangakura. Our community partners include TOI Foundation who have invested in our Community-Led focus in order to transform our local food system. The Big Kai Redesign aims to:
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Uplift the values of mana, sustainability, and circularity
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Create a Mana-Centred Kai Systems Strategy and Action Plan
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Address challenges like food insecurity, environmental harm, and public health outcomes.
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Foster community-led, indigenous-driven solutions rooted in regenerative practices and innovative design
This project is about Systems Change and that means we will weave together policies, resources, relationships, power structures, and cultural mindsets to achieve lasting transformation of kai systems in Taranaki.
As an indigenous-led movement, it also contributes meaningfully to numerous United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by fostering resilient communities, sustainable environments, and inclusive economic growth grounded in te ao Māori values.
Our brand, reflects our commitment to a Mana-centred kai system that integrates indigenous values with global sustainability principles to build resilient, thriving communities in Taranaki.
We can confirm that this research has been assessed and approved by the Aotearoa Research Ethics Committee, Te Roopu Rapu i te tika, [AREC25/49].
Price, Value, and Cost of Our Current Food System
In Taranaki, the price of our current food system is felt deeply. Although we grow enough food to feed many, the focus on export markets means local whānau often find nutritious kai out of reach, leading to poorer health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, the whenua and wai systems suffer from the environmental toll of industrial agriculture—biodiversity loss, soil damage, and polluted waterways. This “cost” isn’t carried by industry, and it is not always visible on supermarket shelves, but impacts us all.
Key reasons why this matters include:
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Many whānau experience barriers to accessing affordable, healthy food that is culturally
connected and sustainable. -
Export-driven models prioritise profits over local wellbeing and the health of Te Taiao.
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Environmental degradation from conventional farming practices harms ecosystems and
reduces long-term food security. -
The loss of connection between people and the source of their kai weakens cultural identity
and community resilience. -
The true value of kai lies beyond price tags ~ it is a taonga that nurtures life, culture, and
relationships for generations.
The Big Kai Redesign invites us to acknowledge these costs while revaluing our food system through indigenous wisdom and circular economy principles. Together, we can grow a kai system that regenerates the environment, supports thriving whānau, and honours our cultural heritage.
Key Concepts
A Kai System encompasses all parts of the food supply chain ~ not just what we see as consumers ~ including the production, storage, processing, transportation, distribution, consumption, and waste management of kai, all interconnected to create a sustainable and resilient ecosystem.
The Big Kai Redesign invites us all to reimagine how every element of the food supply and value chain can be transformed through the guiding principles of mana, sustainability, circularity, and the deep cultural value of kai.
KAI
Kai embodies more than food; it is an essential source of life, cultural identity, and connection that nurtures the wellbeing of people and their environment.
MANA
Mana is the foundational principle that guides respectful relationships, empowering communities to regain authority, dignity, and spiritual connection in food systems.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability ensures that our kai systems regenerate the environment, support health, and uphold cultural values for present and future generations.
CIRCULARITY
Circularity in kai systems models a regenerative economy that eliminates waste, maximises resource use, and mirrors indigenous values of sharing and stewardship.
Why Mana Centred?
Mana is a foundational concept of this kaupapa, signifying energy, power, and an intrinsic connection to the natural world. It guides how we value and engage with each other and our environment. In this plan, Mana is the core principle driving our approach to building sustainable and culturally centred food systems. It informs every stage of our engagement, aligning our objectives with the well-being of both people and the planet.
The Big Kai Redesign is all about us being able to understand community perspectives and effectively develop a Mana-Centred Kai System Strategy.
Why It Matters
Our food system is under pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic models focused more on exports than caring for our land and ecosystems (Te Taiao).
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Many whānau face challenges accessing nourishing kai, despite the abundance of natural
resources and cultural knowledge in Taranaki. -
Disconnection from traditional food sources affects not only health but also cultural identity,
community wellbeing, and environmental health. -
The Big Kai Redesign aims to restore the mana and mauri of our kai by strengthening relationships between people, land, and water.
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It supports healthier whānau, vibrant cultures, and thriving communities.
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The project encourages food practices that regenerate ecosystems and sustain our environment for future generations.
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By blending indigenous knowledge with innovative, circular economy principles, it creates a resilient, sustainable food system for Taranaki’s future.
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This approach builds economic opportunities that
benefit all people living in the region while honouring
cultural values and environmental stewardship.
We invite you to join our movement
We invite you to be part of this transformative journey
in Taranaki. Your voice and insights will help shape
the future of Taranaki’s kai systems.
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses in our food system will provide the opportunity to identify appropriate responses that could contribute to solving some of the biggest challenges facing our region and country today. After we gather data, we will be analysing the contributions made which will be then used to co-design strategic responses to key themes that will contribute to transforming how our kai system delivers better health, societal, environmental and economic outcomes for everyone living in Taranaki.
Our Engagement focus is to inform and catalyse community kōrero about the importance of kai and kai systems to achieving a cultural response and a range of social, environmental and economic goals.
How can you get involved: we have designed a range of activities to gather your thoughts, insights and aspirations:
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Community-wide Survey: Collecting broad feedback to understand needs, values, and aspirations around food and wellbeing.
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One-on-One Interviews: Conversations with food system actors and marae communities to gain deep, personal insights.
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Marae Community Readiness Assessments: Evaluating marae preparedness to participate and
contribute to this kaupapa -
Regional Wānanga: Safe, collective spaces to explore the values we hold with kai, set aspirations, and co-design strategies that build hauora and circularity into our local economy.
Whānau, hapū, businesses, organisations, and all interested community members are welcome to engage at any level. Together, we can revitalise our kai systems in a way that honours our values and future generations.
Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated and receive invitation to participate in all engagement activities as they unfold.
Research Ethics
The BIG KAI REDESIGN project has received ethics approval, under reference AREC 25_49, confirming that the research adheres to rigorous ethical standards. All participants will be provided with Information Sheets and Consent Forms clearly outlining how participant information and data will be respectfully and securely stored, ensuring transparency and trust throughout the process. This approval reflects a commitment to uphold Kaupapa Māori values and culturally grounded ethical practices.
Resources & Contact
For more information, downloadable documents, and
background materials on the Big Kai Redesign,
contact us directly:
Email: kiaora@thebigkairedesign.nz
Phone: 021 47 6692
We welcome kōrero, questions, and collaboration as we journey together to revitalise Taranaki’s kai systems.