Nourishment, Connection, and Community in Action

The Kai Resilient Neighbourhoods Network recently came together for He Hononga Hāpori, a networking hui hosted by Community Waitākere. The shared space created an opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and begin building relationships across a wider gathering of community organisations, practitioners and local leaders focused on local food systems in West Auckland.

The purpose was simple: create space for connection, share what is already happening across West Auckland and explore how collective action can strengthen local food systems.

Across the hui, a consistent theme emerged, kai is about more than food. It is about connection, wellbeing and resilience.

Participants shared a range of initiatives already underway in their neighbourhoods. These included community meals, food rescue, gardening for small spaces, seed sharing, local food forests and plans for pop-up markets and māra kai apps. While each initiative responds to its local context, all are grounded in the same goal: increasing access to affordable, nourishing kai while strengthening community connections.

“We really appreciated the opportunity to present at last week’s hui and share the mahi our emerging kai group is beginning to lead. Being part of the Kai Resilient Neighbourhood Network helped me see the wider connections out there. It really opened my eyes to the possibilities through networks we’re part of and the collective journey ahead.” - Louise Stevenson, Ambrico Community Leader

There was also strong recognition of the need to shift away from dependency-based models. As one participant reflected, food relief meets immediate needs, but long-term change requires building knowledge, skills and local systems that enable communities to feed themselves.

The value of starting at a neighbourhood level was emphasised throughout the discussion. Small, local actions, whether sharing excess produce, learning to preserve food, or connecting with neighbours, were seen as the foundation for wider change.

The hui also highlighted the importance of ongoing connection. By bringing practitioners together regularly, the network creates opportunities to share knowledge, resources and ideas, strengthening collective impact over time.

Thanks to funding support from Waitākere Ranges and Whau local boards as well as weave, Kai West is able to play a key role in supporting this work by acting as a backbone organisation. This includes connecting groups, facilitating shared learning, and helping align efforts across the network. Kai West supports communities to lead their own responses, based on their strengths, needs and aspirations.

As the Kai Resilient Neighbourhoods Network continues to develop, the focus remains on building a more connected, community-led food system, one that supports stronger neighbourhoods and more resilient futures for West Auckland.

If you would like to join the next hui, contact michele@kaiwest.org.nz