Restoring relationships with kai through whakapapa and whenua

He Mana tō te Kai is a journey to reconnect with kai, whenua, and whakapapa. This programme supports the restoration of traditional food practices — from growing and gathering, to preparing, storing, and sharing.

Guided by values like manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, and māramatanga, we explore how kai can nourish not only our bodies, but our whenua, relationships, and futures. Together, we reclaim kai as taonga, not waste.

What You’ll Learn 

• How kai connects us to atua, whakapapa, and te taiao
• What traditional Māori kai systems looked like and what changed
• Practical ways to reduce food waste and restore balance at home and in the community
• How to source kai more locally and sustainably
• How to turn reflection into action through collective planning and manaakitanga

Why It Matters

• In Aotearoa, over 100,000 tonnes of food is wasted every year
• Whānau can save money, improve hauora, and reconnect with mātauranga through kai
• Reducing kai waste protects Papatūānuku and honours Hineahuone
• Reclaiming food knowledge strengthens mana motuhake and community resilience
• Kai is taonga, not trash, and how we treat it reflects how we honour ourselves, our tūpuna, and our future generations

Wānanga Snapshot

Wānanga One: Whakapapa
Explore kai in relation to atua, whenua, and your local environment. Connect your food practices with your rohe, identity, and whakapapa.

Wānanga Two: Māramatanga
Understand the changes in Māori kai systems, from pre-colonial practices to the impacts of colonisation and the challenges of today’s food systems.

Wānanga Three: Kaitiakitanga
Discover what you can do to value kai more and waste less. Explore local sourcing and collective actions that uplift whānau and whenua.

Wānanga Four: Manaakitanga
Share your learnings and make a plan forward. What can you continue as a whānau or community? How will you carry the kaupapa into the future?

How It Works

• Four in-person or online wānanga, each about 2 hours
• Tailored by facilitators to reflect local whakapapa and environment
• Delivered weekly, fortnightly or monthly
• Whānau are asked to track food waste before and after the programme
• Shared kai is encouraged, especially in later wānanga
• Participation is free, but registration and full attendance are required

Barriers and Solutions

We know it can be hard to change habits with kai, especially in a system that encourages waste. This programme helps whānau shift mindsets and behaviours through connection, kōrero, and collective action. Grounded in mātauranga Māori, it’s about restoring tapu and mana to the kai we grow, prepare, and share.

Ready to Learn More

He Mana tō te Kai is more than a programme. It’s a transformation.

If you’re ready to reconnect with kai, your whakapapa, and your whenua, or want to host this programme in your rohe get in touch with us.