Talanoa with Elmma from Seed2Harvest and Le Moana West

Tell us a bit about your organisation and the mahi you do. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your role within the organisation?

Seed2harvest is one of the organisations who are part of Le Moana West Collective. This collective began as a call to action - a shared dream to bring Pasifika leaders together, stand for fairness, and build futures where our people thrive. Our name honours the Moana, vast, deep, and full of the wisdom and courage passed down by our ancestors.

Le Moana represents a shared journey. It reminds us that we are all connected, guided by the same values and hopes for our people. Every Pacific nation is part of our story, and their voices guide the path we take.

Today, Le Moana West is a growing collective of Pasifika people and organisations in West Auckland. Together, we work to make sure resources and opportunities flow into our communities, uplifting, celebrating, and strengthening the amazing work already happening across Waitākere. 

What motivated your organisation to join the Kai West collective, and how do you see yourselves fitting into the collective vision?

Our role is to listen, learn, and contribute to discussions in ways that strengthen our mahi at Le Moana. Through our involvement, we hope to nurture the land, grow kai, and build deeper connections across our communities, supporting a nourished and thriving West Auckland.

Le Moana West Collective joined Kai West with the purpose of bringing a strong Pacific voice to the Steering Committee. We wanted to speak for our people, share our knowledge and experiences, and ensure our Pasifika perspectives are heard and valued.

How has being part of Kai West supported your mahi so far? Are there any moments that have really stood out? 

The networking has been incredible. Through Kai West, I have been able to connect with so many amazing people and opportunities, it really lightens the load for us. The Kai West team works tirelessly behind the scenes, creating spaces for us to collaborate and grow alongside others.

What we love most is how openly they share their networks and partnerships. They don’t hold things back, they see the bigger picture, the wider vision, and the impact we can make when we all come together. It’s a blessing for Le Moana to walk alongside Kai West, learning, building relationships, and seeing how they bring people with shared values and goals together.

How has being part of Kai West shaped your connections to the community or other organisations, your learning, and your view of how we can strengthen the kai system in West Auckland?

Being part of Kai West has opened so many connections for both Seed2Harvest and Le Moana West Collective. It’s inspiring to see how people, organisations, and communities can come together with a shared purpose. The networking and collaboration happening behind the scenes really lighten the load and show what’s possible when we work together to strengthen the kai system.

We’ve learned that growing a strong kai system is about so much more than planting and harvesting. It’s about empowering people with the skills and knowledge to care for kai, connecting them to the land and to one another, and ensuring kai is valued and nurtured throughout its entire journey.

Through your involvement, what have you learned about the local food system, your community connections, or what’s needed to build a stronger kai system in West Auckland?

I’ve learned that kai sits at the heart of everything, it connects life, community, and the environment. Many people don’t realise how food is grown; for some, it simply appears on supermarket shelves. There’s so much care and effort that goes into growing kai, and real loss when it isn’t valued or looked after.

It’s not our role to change people, but it is our responsibility to change how kai is cared for and to share what we know. We nurture people alongside the kai, helping them understand where it comes from and the impact it has on our lives and our planet.

Being part of Kai West has also shown me the power of collaboration, sharing ideas, learning from others, and seeing how, together, we can strengthen the whole kai system.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of the Kai West collective?

My dad used to tell me about growing up in Tamaroa, Mangaia, Cook Islands. Back then, everyone had a garden, and it was understood that if you didn’t have one, you didn’t eat. Each home, big or small, had a garden, flowers, fruits, vegetables, everyone had one.

That’s the vision I hope for the future: seeing homes across New Zealand with their own gardens, growing food, living more sustainably, and connecting with their communities. We’re incredibly lucky here, the land, the water, the resources are fertile and abundant. We have the opportunity to nurture our land, grow our own food, and strengthen the communities around us.

How can others in the community or funders support your collective mahi?

Support - including funding, time, and engagement - is vital. Being present, asking questions, and learning alongside us strengthens the work we do. When funders visit the gardens, meet participants, and see our mahi in action, they become part of the community. This hands-on involvement, combined with financial support, helps build a stronger, more connected food system across West Auckland.