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 collaboration will focus on several key objectives:

• Alleviating food insecurity: By providing accessible, nutrient-dense food to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu community, the initiative aims to directly combat food insecurity in the region.
• Promoting sustainable food systems: Through education and community engagement, the food hub will foster resilient and sustainable food practices.
• Creating a vibrant community hub: The new food hub will serve as a focal point for cultural and social interactions, enriching the local community.
• Rescuing and upcycling surplus food: In alignment with the circular economy model, surplus food will be rescued and transformed into valuable resources, minimising waste and contributing to environmental sustainability.

“We are thrilled to partner with I Am Māngere to extend our goal of food security and community resilience to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu region,” said Food Hub Collective’s Raju Ramakrishna.

“Together we can make a real impact, ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food while fostering a sense of community and belonging.”

This will ultimately replace the Papatoetoe Food Hub which, after six years of operation, closed its doors at the old Papatoetoe Rangers netball court due to major redevelopment projects in the area.

“While this marks the end of an era at Papatoetoe, it is also the beginning of a new chapter,” says Healthy Families South Auckland’s Julio Bin.

“Healthy Families South Auckland will support the Food Hub Collective to continue its mahi across other sites, leveraging the knowledge and experience gained over the years to inspire and assist the establishment of new food hubs. These food hubs will be modelled on the Papatoetoe Food Hub, ensuring that the community have access to good and affordable food, through a holistic approach to wellbeing and cultural connection.”

Papatoetoe Food Hub demonstrated how a community-led initiative can operate within a circular economy model, along with the environmental and economic benefits of rescuing and upcycling surplus food into healthy affordable kai.

“The impact of the Papatoetoe Food Hub has led to real systems change within local government spaces and has also seen Auckland Council invest in several community hubs across the region,” says Healthy Families South Auckland manager Matt Appleyard. “It is excellent that the Food Hub Collective will continue the kaupapa in South Auckland. We also thank its supporters, including the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, TSI, Eke Panuku, Foundation North, Simpson Grierson, Aro Advisers, New World Papatoetoe, and many other individuals and organisations that have championed the Papatoetoe Food Hub from the beginning.”