07 Sep Kai Ora Fund Growing More Projects Around Northland
All New Zealanders should have sufficient access to healthy food that is affordable and safe to eat.
The Kai Ora Fund is a small community grants process to support innovative projects that address food security, benefit the wider community and encourage employment and economic development in the region. We want our communities to have an accessible, affordable and safe food supply for current and future generations, and to be resilient to future disruption or unavailability of food due to various risk factors including droughts, fuel shortages and economic instability.
The Kai Ora Fund has been running since 2015 as a successful partnership between the Far North District Council and the Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation (PHO) as a unique way to increase health and support economic development in the region.
More projects than ever are being supported through the Kai Ora Fund to make healthy food available and support sustainable community and economic growth in Northland. There are three new partners, two new regions covered, a record number of applications and 26 new projects funded.
The fund is a partnership between Far North District Council, Te Tai Tokerau PHO, Te Puni Kōkiri, Northland Inc, and Manaia Health PHO. Since beginning in 2015, Kai Ora has funded 56 projects.
Ngaire Rae, Manaia Health PHO health promotion manager, says the number and quality of applications this year was impressive. “It’s very exciting to see the energy and passion in the community around local food. We can’t wait to see what this round of projects will achieve,” she says.
New projects include the set-up of a cooperative food mart in the Hokianga, watercress growing, creation of backyard garden boxes in 50 homes in Kawakawa, start-up of a youth-led mobile smoothie bar in Kaitaia, and school-based garden-to-table programmes. The project teams made connections with each other at recent Kai Ora workshops and many will now work together to make an even bigger impact.
Daniela Johnson, Kai Ora coordinator at Te Tai Tokerau PHO, says that the fund will run again next year. “We’re keen to hear from groups interested in applying in the future or interested in contributing to current projects.”
Johnson says that Kai Ora aims to fund projects that will make healthy, local, sustainable food easily available throughout Tai Tokerau. “We’re here to encourage and support those who share this dream and passion,” she says.
See a full list of funded projects here
For more information visit the website
contact: Daniela Johnson, Te Tai Tokerau PHO, email [email protected]
Photo: ‘Kaiora 3’ – Sarasin Ben contemplating garden life at the Goodlife Gardens in Kaitaia
Photo: ‘Kai Ora Fund Group 2’ – Participants at the Kaikohe Kai Ora Workshop
Photo: ‘Kai Ora Fund Group 6’ – Participants at the Whangarei Kai Ora Workshop