In May 2024, Kainga Ora (Mangere) and TCC Healthy Families South Auckland formed a transformative partnership aimed at fostering food sovereignty among whanau (families) living in Kāinga Ora apartments. This initiative, based in Mangere, focused on equipping residents with the tools, resources, and training necessary to cultivate their own gardens in an apartment setting.

The kaupapa of the Papatoetoe Food Hub, an initiative originally started by Healthy Families South Auckland, is set to continue in a new collaboration between the Food Hub Collective and I Am Māngere with the aim of creating a community food hub within the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu area.

The partnership was agreed to in September 2024 with a commitment to creating transformative change in the health and wellbeing of South Auckland communities. This also includes a shared vision to address social conditions, provide community education, and raise awareness of available services, all while upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The enduring bond between Tangata Whenua and Tangata O Le Moana is a relationship steeped in shared history, cultural values, and mutual respect. This relationship is exemplified by the concept of Mana Motuhake, which represents the inherent authority and self-determination of Māori, and is a principle that has long resonated with Pacific communities who share similar values of sovereignty and collective identity.

HFSA Food Systems recently hit a significant milestone with the launch of our first Wānanga, kicking off a three-month activation initiative in partnership with Kāinga Ora and the residents of Mascot Road, Māngere. This project is all about empowering Pacific communities in Aotearoa to grow their own kai (food), using a holistic and indigenous approach to food systems.

Healthy Families South Auckland and Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) recently held a hui to bolster their joint efforts in improving health and wellbeing initiatives across Auckland Council and its communities.

The hui aimed to build whanaungatanga between the two teams, now part of Auckland Council’s Community Impact Unit.

Healthy Families South Auckland is ready to unearth new whaikorero as part of its upcoming Te Tau Hou