Welcome to our July Pānui.

Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua

By caring for the land and the people the future will be prosperous

As the 2021 Matariki period nears its end for this season, we take time to pause in awe and to give special acknowledgement to all who celebrated and made offerings for a bountiful future. We hope with the release of our new Standard Food Parcel Measure this contributes to the wellbeing of those in need, and to the wellbeing of their whanaunga, through conscious contributions and the distribution of nutritious kai.

Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure Launch

Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure Launched (ASFPM):

Thank you to those of you who joined us for the official launch of the Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure on Thursday 22 July. This is a significant step towards bringing a common voice across the community food space and holding the mana of those we serve.

We know through our collective wisdom sharing kai through Foodbanks has a rich history in Aotearoa. Up until now there has been no real way we could accurately measure the volume of food we do share, or count those whom Food Parcels reach.

From the beginning of July, and with the release of our research – ‘What is a Food Parcel’, we have invited the sector to begin measuring what they do using the proposed  ‘Standard Food Parcel Measure’, so that this could become a commonly used measure for the number of nutritionally adequate Food Parcels being distributed.

A Standard Food Parcel is: For 4 people (Adult or children), 3 meals a day for 4 days at approximately 80% of the standard NZ nutritional intake.

We have five organisations who are currently piloting the Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure, which will help us to gather and share collective Food Parcel data. Interest in the application of the Measure is growing. We welcome all community food groups across Aotearoa to join in trialing this new tool to measure their current practice - please reach out of you’re interested.

Kore Hiakai appreciate the warmth and affirmation from those who were present at the launch (or couldn’t be!). Together we made a difference. If you want to know more, or need help with the nutritional aspect, please contact tammie.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz.

 “This measure is not a prescription. We are not trying to tell Foodbanks what specific foods they should give out. We are inviting Foodbanks to count the food assistance they are engaged in using this measure.”

Kore Hiakai research also showed the difficulty that many Foodbanks have with procurement of fresh produce, and therefore meeting the NZ nutritional intake standard. Fresh fruit and vegetables are particularly hard to source unless there is funding or a direct relationship with Food Rescue. The New Zealand Food Network, the Ministry of Social Development and the newly formed Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance are commited to working with Kore Hiakai to bring more comprehenisve access and nutritious supply to Foodbanks and community food organisations.

 Over the next 12 months Kore Hiakai are inviting Foodbanks and community food organisations to count the number of Standard Food Parcels they distribute using this measure in order to gauge a better understanding for the level of food insecurity within our communities. This will help the sector to understand the number of Food Parcels being distributed and therefore how many people are being fed.

The Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure Launch Event

Draft Findings Retail Grocery Sector Study

The Commerce Commission has released draft findings from a supermarket competition inquiry market study, with warnings the current duopoly manifests a lack of retail competition. It is suggested if competition was more effective, retailers would face stronger pressures to deliver the right prices, quality and range to satisfy a diverse range of consumer preferences. The clear evidence is that the sector lacks candidacy, with particular stark findings relative to high profits of the duopoly (above 20% returns when 5% is considered good), the restricted wholesale market preventing new players, and the duopoly’s behaviour around land (e.g. covenants) to prevent competition opening up nearby.

A full copy of the report can be found here - Market Study into the Retail Grocery Sector.

We look forward to the release of the full report later this year and remain hopeful the Commerce Commission will also uplift the need for alternatives to the supermarket model. We hope to see a voice given to more circular local economies which give greater access and affordability to nutritious kai for all, and to challenge the practice that food is purely a commodity.

“If we want all our people to have dignified access to enough good food, we need an approach which understands food insecurity is experience by people but driven by systems.” Kore Hiakai

Dawn Raid Apology

Jacinda Ardern has made a heartfelt historic apology for the 1970s dawn raids, resulting in the racist-laden deportation and prosecution of many Pacific Islanders, which separated families and devastated communities.

Both Labour and National political parties have accepted the raids were xenophobic. Many overstayers at the time were British or American.

"Our government conveys to the future generations of Aotearoa that the past actions of the Crown were wrong, and that the treatment of your ancestors was wrong. We convey to you our deepest and sincerest apology."

Kore Hiakai applaud the humility of those in Government to embody this atonement, and for the welcome richness and prosperity Pasifika bring to Aotearoa. We hope this apology from the powers who caused harm will solidify dignity, trust and a sense of peace for all of those impacted.

Mana to Mana Practice Workshops

From August we begin our Mana to Mana Practice workshops across Aotearoa. If you are interested in how this resource can be embedded into your practice model then please come and explore with us. The first few are trial workshops.

• Auckland Central – Thursday 05 August 2021 (full)

• Northcote – Friday 06 August 9.30 at 12 noon

• Wellington -  Thursday 02 September (venue and time TBC)

• Palmerston North - Friday 3 September (venue & time TBC)

• Christchurch / Ōtautahi – Wednesday 29 September 2021, St Albans from 9.30 – 12 noon

Mana to Mana Practice Workshop Registration

We promote and advertise Mana to Mana workshops on our Kore Hiakai Facebook page.

Alternatively you can email us directly at korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz

Kore Hiakai and MSD Webinars

On Monday 02 August we held another great Webinar with MSD about social enterprise and community kai.

Thank you to the four organisations who contributed to the kōrero.

You can check out the webinar link on our FB page or their organisations below:

• Ākina

• Papatoetoe Food Hub

• Otara Kai Village

• Hikurangi Enterprises Limited

Food Security Symposium Reflection

Tēnā rawa atu koutou katoa to all who contributed to our recent online symposium - bringing together people, strengthening connections and building on our collective understanding of food security in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Over 50 academics, researchers and thought-leaders shared their wisdom on food insecurity and actions to achieve a food secure Aotearoa.  

Dr Sarah Gerritsen, Christine McKerchar, and Professor Louise Signal gave inspiring presentations that highlighted the broad-reaching, deeply-rooted, and complex intersectional factors that perpetuate food insecurity. These were further discussed during breakout groups in which participants shared suggestions about areas for action and further research.

A YouTube clip of the presentations will be published soon (with a summary of the day and Presenters’ slides). There will also be a Google Form for people to share their published, current and future research loaded on our website. Watch our space!

Champion Stories

There are many amazing organisations doing really amazing mahi. If you, or others you know, have a champion story to tell please let us know! You may be demonstating exceptional leadership, know of others collaborating in a meaningful way, or are utilising and sharing resources to the benefit of our community. We would love to hear and share your knowledge. For blog features please contact tammie.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz

This year Matariki has helped us to remember our connections - to each other, to those who have come before us, to those who inspire us, to the stars, and the whenua. Our wholeness and well-being comes from all those connections, just as our nations wholeness comes from each doing our bit as a whānau of more than 5 million. With the uplifting of each other’s mana, and the mana of our whenua, this enables us all to be food secure.

We live in a country that has incredible abundance. May we all share in that prosperity.

Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua. By caring for the land and the people the future will be prosperous.

Nga manaakitanga,

Kore Hiakai

Pou Ārahi

korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz 
M. 027 462 4377

Kairangahau

barbara.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz

Kairangahau

jennie.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz

Pou Māori

wayne.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz
M. 022 492 9667

Kaituitui Kōrero

tammie.korehiakai@nzccss.org.nz
M. 027 276 3605