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

The Soil We’re Rebuilding

Te Mahi Wairākau is about more than managing food scraps — it’s a commitment to restoring the mauri of Hineahuone through composting practices that nourish the whenua and grow abundance.

By returning organic matter to Papatūānuku, we restore balance, reduce harm, and reconnect with tūpuna systems that once sustained entire communities. Composting isn’t just a task — it’s a form of kaitiakitanga and whanaungatanga with the land.

This programme supports a range of composting solutions, from worm farms to large-scale systems, all grounded in mātauranga Māori and manaaki for our taiao.

Everyday Actions, Deep Impact

Through this kaupapa, you’ll be supported to:

• Understand why composting enhances the mauri of Papatūānuku and Hineahuone
• Recognise the harm caused by sending food waste to landfill
• Compare different composting systems and choose the one that suits your space
• Create balance in your compost using nitrogen and carbon
• Build a compost bin using reclaimed materials
• Reclaim tūpuna-informed ways of managing organic waste

Why Wairākau Matters

• Landfilling food waste creates methane and pollutes Ranginui and Papatūānuku
• Composting returns nutrients to the soil, boosting the hauora of whenua and people
• About 40% of household waste in Aotearoa is compostable — most of it is wasted
• Wairākau systems reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers and food systems
• Composting builds resilience, mana motuhake, and food security for our communities

What the Wānanga Looks Like

Delivered across multiple wānanga, Te Mahi Wairākau blends kōrero, practical skills, and mātauranga Māori into a learning journey that’s hands-on and community-driven.

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.

What Gets in the Way — And How We Compost Through It

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.

Let’s Grow Something Together

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.