VOTE FOR KAI: OUR FOOD SYSTEM, OUR FUTURE

Kai West has joined other organisations from across Aotearoa calling on political parties to take a longer-term view to improve our food system.

Vote For Kai is a collective movement for a just and sustainable food system in Aotearoa, where everyone has access to healthy, culturally appropriate kai and Te Tiriti ō Waitangi is honoured in shaping the food system.

“At Kai West, we believe that every whānau in Aotearoa should be able to access good kai, every community should have a voice in shaping its local food system and the people growing and producing our food should be properly supported,” says Michele Eicksteadt, Collaborations Broker for Kai West.

This challenge is bigger than whether an individual household can make healthy food choices. The way our food is grown, produced, priced, marketed and distributed is shaped by decisions across our communities, councils, the government and the wider economy.

“We need to change the conditions around food, not just ask people to cope with the current situation,” says Michele.

“That’s why Kai West has joined the Vote For Kai movement and signed their open letter calling on all political parties to state what they’ll do for New Zealand’s food system. This connects so strongly to the work we’re already doing locally.”

The Kai Resilient Neighbourhoods initiative is bringing communities together to show what local food leadership can look like. People are growing and sharing kai, creating community gardens, strengthening relationships and finding other practical ways to build resilience.

The Kai Conversations series that took place in eight neighbourhoods showed that people want a food system that is rooted in place, fairer, culturally meaningful and able to care for both people and te taiao.

“Communities have ideas, energy and solutions, but what’s missing is the support, resources and coordination to turn those ideas into action. That’s where Kai West believes the government has an important role,” says Michele.

Meaningful change in our food system would start with policies and investment that make it easier for our communities to lead. This in turn should create access to healthier kai for everyone, as well as valuing local food producers and strengthening local food economies.

A better food system for Aotearoa would also protect and celebrate food cultures, and uphold Te Tiriti ō Waitangi, so that mana whenua and communities have meaningful influence over decisions affecting their kai and whenua.

“This means we need to think beyond just the next funding round or election cycle,” says Michele.

“We’re not alone in thinking this way. Recent research showed that right across the political spectrum, eight out of 10 New Zealanders believed politicians should do more to create healthier food environments.”

Aotearoa grows an abundance of food, but the real question is how we can build a food system that works for all of us.

To keep kai as part of the political discussion during and after the 2026 election you can also:

• Pledge your support for what Vote For Kai is calling for here.

• Share this pledge with your whānau, friends and networks.

• Ask your local candidates what they’ll be doing to build a healthier, fairer and more resilient food system.

• Continue to support the local people and organisations already changing the food system in our communities.

“This election is an opportunity to ask for more than short-term responses to food hardship. Let’s call on our representatives to create a food system that invests in people, places, producers, whenua and the future,” says Michele.

When we vote for kai, we’re giving everyone the opportunity to access good kai, participate in shaping their food system and be part of a community where food is a source of wellbeing, connection and culture.