This was a pilot project instigated by Jody Hamilton of Progressive Procurement to establish a network of Māori businesses and an associated food resilience system in the Takitimu rohe – Te Kai Co-op, which will result in whānau having access to affordable and nutritious kai. 

Māori businesses were supported to take a lead role in the system, from production to processing to distribution to service to consumption.  The approach was localised to whānau households, marae and hapori, to increase whānau and community-based growers, processors, distributors, services and consumers.

Te Kai Co-op is rooted in Māori traditions and cultural practices. Beginning as a pilot in two key locations, this localised approach to food production, distribution and consumption drew upon previous research and projects, traditional knowledge and sustainable practices to promote community well-being, environmental stewardship and cultural revitalisation.

The vision is ‘He kai kei aku ringa’ (there is food at the end of my hands), where whānau have a role in and access to affordable, fresh, nutritious kai produced/grown, processed and distributed from within their own rohe.  The goal is ‘enabling whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori businesses, land owners and marae to implement the Māori food resilience system, so that they are the providers of affordable and nutritious kai to whānau’.  

Te Kai Co-op emphasises the consumption of fresh, locally sourced and nutritionally rich foods. This dietary shift has positive implications for public health, reducing the prevalence of diet-related diseases. The system promotes a holistic understanding of well-being by recognising the interconnectedness of physical, mental and spiritual health, further enriching the lives of community members.

The intention is that implementation of Te Kai Co-op will bolster the local economy by creating employment opportunities and supporting small-scale businesses. This system encourages a local food economy, reducing dependency on imports and strengthening the resilience of the region's food supply chain.

Implementation of Te Kai Co-op was led by Gretta Carney (Hapī) and Heather Te Au Skipworth (Ironmāori), in partnership with community leaders.