The Regional Kai Network

The Regional Kai Network is a collaborative group that is dedicated to shifting the Wellington regional food system to one that centres the health of our communities and environment. This group includes individuals at all levels who are passionate about growing, eating, and sharing kai

Vision: Wellington is a region where everyone always has access to good kai through a resilient, local and fair food system. 

Mission: Through the Regional Kai Network, we aim to bring people together to transform our food system by:

  • Prioritizing the health of people and the environment in all aspects of food production, distribution and consumption

  • Providing oppurtunities for connections and collaborations around education, employment, and a vibrant local food economy

  • Identifying and addressing barriers to accessing local food, regardless of age, social status or cultural background

  • Honouring and revitalizing traditional practices of mahinga kai and reconnecting with whenua to support whānau and indigeneous food culture

We hope that this website serves as a hub for conversations and collaborations with partners, decision-makers, producers, and community leaders who are working towards our shared vision.

Members of the Regional Kai Network can help inform the development of a Regional Food System Strategy.

If you're interested in joining the Regional Kai Network or learning more about our initiatives, please contact us at info@regionalkainetwork.org.nz

  • Over the past four years, Te Whatu Ora has actively engaged with a diverse group of individuals and organisations who are passionate about improving our food system for our communities and whānau. It includes people at all levels who care about, produce and eat kai. With a strong emphasis on equity, local sustainability, and honouring indigenous food sovereignty, this collective is known as the Regional Kai Network (RKN). Since 2021, Te Whatu Ora has brought  together like-minded individuals from Wellington city, Kapiti, Porirua, Hutt Valley, and Wairarapa to determine how we can collectively shift the Wellington region's food system to one that centres on the health of our communities and environment

    As part of our commitment, Te Whatu Ora is actively engaged in facilitating the development of a Regional Food System Strategy. This strategy aims to incorporate the invaluable insights and contributions from the RKN, ensuring their voices and perspectives shape the future of our region's food system.

The Regional Food System Strategy

The development of The Regional Food System Strategy is an opportunity to foster a sustainable, locally based, and equitable food system.

The strategy aims to:

  • Create an actionable plan that prioritises food security, food sovereignty, economic opportunities and community wellbeing through sustainable and local methods that benefit all aspects of health

  • Strengthen community, iwi and council partnerships across the region

  • Embed mātauranga Māori and Te Ao Māori concepts of food sustainability. Support opportunities for the Māori food economy as determined by Māori

  • Inform future policy on aspects such as urban development, economic planning and climate change

This project is led by Te Whatu Ora - National Public Health Service, Wellington; it began in September 2022 and is being supported by the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee (WRLC) as part of the Wellington Regional Growth Framework (WRGF). The strategy will be developed with input from many different stakeholders, including hapu/iwi/manawhenua, kai producers and industry members, community organisations, local and central government. Benefits are expected to be seen in health and social wellbeing, local economies, employment, environment and climate change.

Areas included in this strategy are: Wellington city, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Kapiti, Wairarapa and Horowhenua.

Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourouka ora ai te iwi. "With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive." 

You can learn more here: https://wrlc.org.nz/introducing-the-regional-food-systems-strategy-project

Read our Regional Food System Plan: Phase One Report (April 2024)

The Wellington Regional Leadership Committee

The Wellington Regional Leadership Committee (WRLC) is a collaboration between councils, iwi and central government in the Wellington-Wairarapa-Horowhenua region. The WRLC is looking at things from a systems-level covering all interrelated aspects that underpin how we live and work. The committee aims to positively shape the future of the region related to key areas of development, such as housing, transportation and climate change. Within the climate change priorities, the development of a Regional Food System Strategy has been identified as a key input.

They are focusing on better coordination and alignment across our region, to build a better future together. One of the key initiatives that supports the WRLC's priorities, and the Regional Kai Network objectives is to:

Create an actionable plan that prioritises food security, food sovereignty, economic oppurtunities and community wellbeing through sustainable and local methods.

You can learn more about WRLC at: https://wrlc.org.nz/

Recent updates

Regional Food System Strategy:

  • On September 21, we held our first joint Community Advisory Board and Iwi/hapu Ropu hui to bring together the groups for whakawhanaungatanga and identify overlapping priorities

  • On September 28, we held our first Technical Advisors Group meeting, which brought together professionals from academia, local government, central government, and industry to learn about our strategy and explore how their expertise could contribute. We are grateful for the momentum and passion of mana whenua and our community partners, which continue to drive the strategy forward.