Composting to nourish the soil, grow kai, and uplift the mana of Hineahuone.

Composting is more than managing food scraps—it’s a commitment to creating healthy, living soil that feeds both people and the whenua. By enhancing the mauri of Hineahuone, we enable whānau and hapū to grow abundant kai and build food sovereignty.

This multi-wānanga programme explores practical composting solutions—ranging from worm farms to large-scale systems—all grounded in mātauranga Māori and manaaki for our taiao.

What You’ll Learn 

• Why composting supports the mauri of Papatūānuku and Hineahuone
• The hidden harms of sending food waste to landfill
• Key differences between composting systems and how to choose what works for you
• How carbon and nitrogen create balance in compost
• How to build your own compost bin using reclaimed materials
• Tūpuna-informed ways of managing organic waste in harmony with te taiao

Why It Matters

• Organic waste in landfill creates methane, harming Ranginui and Papatūānuku
• Composting returns nutrients to the soil, improving hauora for people and whenua
• Around 40% of household waste in Aotearoa is compostable—but most of it is wasted
• Wairākau systems reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers and external food sources
• Building knowledge and compost infrastructure supports mana motuhake and local food security

Wānanga Snapshot

Wānanga One:Ā Tātou Para Kai: Me tuku ki te pū wairākau, me porowhiu rānei ki te ruapara | Food Waste in Compost vs Landfill

This wānanga investigates what happens to our food waste in the two very different contexts and processes of compost and landfill. We also look at what these two systems produce as tangible outcomes or products of processing the food waste in these settings. The final step is to understand the very different impacts these two systems have – on our health, on our taiao, on our atua.

Wānanga Two: He Momo Pūnaha Wairākau | Different Composting Systems

This wānanga is an introduction to some of the most commonly used composting systems or methods. It provides an overview of how the different systems work, which contexts they work best in, and what their outcomes (products) are. Part of this wānanga is deciding which composting system would work for the participants.

Wānanga Three: Te Hauota me te Waro: Whakaurunga Wairākau | Introducing Nitrogen and Carbon

This wānanga is designed to introduce nitrogen and carbon as essential elements to any compost making.

Wānanga Four: Build a Recycled Pallet Compost Bin

A hands-on session where participants build their own compost bin using untreated reclaimed pallets—turning waste into a taonga for the whenua.

Barriers and Solutions

Composting can seem messy, smelly, or too hard—but with the right support and knowledge, it’s simple, impactful, and deeply connected to mātauranga Māori. This programme empowers whānau to reclaim their role as kaitiaki by transforming waste into nourishment.

Ready to build soil, restore balance, and reconnect with atua through wairākau?

Te Mahi Wairākau is more than a skillset. It’s a return to tūpuna practice, a reconnection with whenua, and a path toward abundant, resilient futures. This programme is hands-on, rooted in mātauranga Māori, and tailored to your community. Let’s kōrero about bringing this kaupapa to your rohe.