Advocacy

For Kai West, advocacy is one of our essential Pou (pillars). It’s about raising the voices of our communities to help bring about the changes they want to see in our local food systems.

Kai West actively participates in both local and central government advocacy, contributing to wider efforts to remove systemic barriers that hinder progress toward collective kai sovereignty. Our advocacy efforts aim to ensure that food systems are shaped by the people they serve, rooted in equity, sustainability, and resilience. Kai West advocates for the changes our communities want to see in the local food system.


  • Reducing barriers

    Reducing barriers to accessing fresh, affordable, and local kai.

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  • Joining conversations

    Joining local, regional, and national conversations to influence systemic change in the kai space.

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  • Engagement

    Engaging with local and central governments to secure resources for locally led food initiatives.

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  • Providing Insights

    Providing insights to decision-makers about the realities of our local food landscape and influencing resources allocation to maximise impact for our communities

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  • Kotahitanga

    Bringing together West Auckland’s three Local Boards to strengthen collaboration around food resilience and sovereignty.

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Kai West’s advocacy takes many forms, building networks of action that empower communities to collaborate and share knowledge, skills, and resources. Through this approach, we connect with local experts and gain a deeper understanding of issues and solutions from community perspectives.
As a collective, Kai West is deeply connected with partners across multiple sectors,  including health, education, environment, social services, and grassroots community organisations. These cross-sector relationships extend the reach and impact of our kaupapa, helping us to embed food resilience and sovereignty into many aspects of community life.
Beyond our local partnerships, we are also actively connected to networks across Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa. These wider connections enable us to share knowledge, amplify community voices, and align our efforts with broader movements shaping the future of our food systems.
We believe that small, local changes can spark broader transformation. By sharing the stories and successes of West Auckland, we hope to inspire other communities and contribute to a nationwide movement towards regenerative, inclusive, and resilient local food systems. This work celebrates the importance of local food governance and seeks to embed environmentally sustainable and nutritious food into the political agenda. Through our efforts, we have been connecting grassroots action with big picture change, nurturing networks that exchange knowledge, skills, and stories that challenge the status quo and empower others to act.


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