Tipu Te Uru: A New Name for a Growing Network
May 2025
Kai West’s network of action focused on soil health and kai growing has a new name. At the network’s second hui, in May 2025, members agreed to call themselves Tipu Te Uru - Grow West. This bilingual name reflects the network’s kaupapa of growing community, knowledge and resilience through healthy soil and local food systems.
Tipu Te Uru is one of several action-focused networks aiming to build local food sovereignty and resilience, bringing together people interested in restoring soil health, sharing skills and creating long-term, locally driven change. This network began with a baseline survey of potential members during 2024, to understand how the network might develop, followed by an inaugural hui in February 2025.
“We know that we are stronger when we work together with our community allies. What can often feel like isolated work is transformed into a shared journey of support and collaboration,” says Kylie Maltman, who looks after 40 Garden to Table schools in West Auckland.
“Garden To Table is thrilled to be part of the Tipu Te Uru network, to learn together and contribute with our experience and knowledge, including curriculum-aligned resources for schools and a focus on lifelong learning through hands-on education.”
May’s hui saw participants continue to refine their working purpose, which is A community for soil and food in balance. While still evolving, this phrase captures the group’s collective focus on regenerative practices, fair access to healthy food, and strong community connections.
Participants also heard from Savannah Carter-Green, who spoke about her organisation Kai Rākau’s journey to save heritage fruit trees and establish a large collection of fruit, nut, native medicinal (Rākau Rongoā) and subtropical fruit trees in Paremoremo Reserve, near Albany.
Kai Rākau is keen to scale its work and now it has a better understanding of West Auckland’s food growing projects, this area can be a priority for potential future initiatives.
The network is planning practical steps, such as working bees, seasonal wānanga, a shared resource directory, and hands-on learning opportunities. As it becomes more established, it is also keen to look at mapping local food growing projects, setting up crop swaps and running workshops on composting, seed-saving and food forest design.
Together the members of this network of action are hoping to build a healthier, more connected West Auckland, where communities have the knowledge, tools and relationships to grow food sustainably for generations to come.