Lay summary
Decades of degradation through land use changes, soil erosion, and climate change, have disrupted access to healthy kai, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases and adverse mental health outcomes for Māori. Restoring intergenerational knowledge of growing kai and caring for kapata kai (traditional food-gathering places) is important for the long-term wellbeing of whānau and our communities. The purpose of this grant is to design, organise and facilitate a thought-space wānanga in Te Tairāwhiti with kai growers and practitioners who have place-based experience and insights on intergenerational kai growing and gathering, taiao restoration, and rongoā. One-on-one hui with local kai experts and other nationally recognised kai theorists will also be an important data gathering strategy on this kaupapa. The findings will be used to develop an HRC programme grant to enable improved food security practices, stronger cultural wellbeing, healthier environments, and long-term health gains for whānau and whenua in Te Tairāwhiti.