Whenua Warriors Foster Kaitiakitanga
Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua.
By caring for the land and the people the future will be prosperous.
What started as an epiphany five years ago that the food systems in Aotearoa needed to change, in order for food security and food sovereignty to be actualised, is now a thriving manifestation for the Whenua Warriors. Committed to collaborating and growing kaitiaki capability that honours traditional food sources to create sustainable solutions, this is their vision to grow food security.
As our food sources have gradually been polluted, depleted or often replaced by processed kai sourced through retail outlets, so has knowledge, values and our environment. Our current market system disadvantages those on low incomes – especially Māori, Pasifika and migrants, and particularly women with children.
In Aotearoa, those most impacted by food insecurity face social, health and economic inequities because they are unable to access quality and nutritious food.
“One solution for creating food security is growing edible gardens, accessible to every New Zealander, that feeds the community, educates the community to feed themselves, and empowers each other to teach one another as well,” said Kelly Francis, the instigator and one of the driving forces behind Whenua Warrior charitable trust.
On a mission to nourish communities and nurture connectedness through kaitiakitanga, the Whenua Warriors support whānau to contribute to their whanaunga and own wellbeing through caring for the environment and by contributing to the good production, distribution and consumption of kai.
Indigenous food systems and methodologies that reflect on traditional kai sources, mutual respect for Papatūānuku, and knowledge gained from tūpuna are not just a vehicle to source sustenance or nutrition. Food is also the arbitrator of social, political and economic relationships, with kai aligning to life-long learning and wellbeing. “Seeds are a new currency and one that should be respected above dollars and cents,” Kelly said.
To kick start others on their food security and sovereign journey, Whenua Warriors offer a range of māra kai and educational initiatives, embedding the cultural significance of kai as essential for community welfare. 'We started with what we know – building gardens in the backyards of whānau in South Auckland,” Kelly said.
“Our project has been supported by Foundation North which has allowed us to build 600 gardens in the back of 600 homes. This has helped us to connect with families, to share our knowledge in the comfort of their homes and with those who will be maintaining the garden once we have left. We have seen major successes with this project and have also partnered with The Salvation Army, Reconnect and VisionWest for similar projects managed by those community groups.'
As we are all the stewards of Aotearoa – we thank the Whenua Warriors for their efforts to help whānau grow sustainable healthy kai, and for also helping to harness kaitiakitanga in our communities.
'He rongoā te kai, he kai te rongoā'.
Our medicine is our food, our food is our medicine.