Since inception of the programme in 2009, over 800 Māra Kai projects have been supported across the 10 Te Puni Kōkiri regions.

In the last financial year alone, some 300 Māra Kai received assistance with more than $700,000 funding allocated.

This page contains a selection of Māra Kai funded through Te Puni Kōkiri regional offices.

Te Taitokerau

Kaikohe East Primary School

With volcanic rich soil and available land, the school was excited to use this opportunity as a vehicle to develop a māra philosophy that supports the health and education of students in learning about sustainable living.

Project Kākano

After a public meeting called by Te Kōtahitanga Marae Trustees, the community, whānau and hapū agreed that a community garden be established for the purpose of planting and growing fresh vegetables to supply the needy, the elderly and the community.

Ngāti Kahu Social and Health Services

Funding to Ngāti Kahu Social and Health Services supported gardens for tangata whaiora and whānau to not only eat the fruits of their labour but also encourage them to apply what they learn in their home gardens.

Tāmaki Makaurau

Oraeroa Marae

This māra kai project provided Oraeroa Marae with a resource to achieve a number of activities including continued development of their herb garden and vegetable garden as well as new planting of fruit trees at the marae.

Whaiora Marae

This Otara-based marae has an existing community garden which has been extended to include a new section of planter boxes. The Marae intends to invite local Kura Kaupapa to help plan what to grow, and include the children in planting sessions.

Waikato

Ngāti Whanaunga Inc-Te Waimamaku from Kennedys Bay Coromandel

Ngāti Whanaunga umbrella six māra kai projects in the upper Coromandel and Hauraki rohe. Opportunity exists to build whānau knowledge and understanding of māra through the development of traditional garden expertise within Māori communities.

Te Moana ā Toi

Maintaining Community Traditions – Hinepukohurangi Trust

Whānau have always been able to gather kai from communal fruit trees throughout the community of Ruatāhuna. Hinepukohurangi Trust has taken the initiative to support the community to ensure these practices continue during the current tough economic conditions.

Welcome Bay Community Centre

“We look at the benefits of plants holistically. Not only can they feed us and build us physically, this supports us mentally and emotionally. We also look at it spiritually and what it can do for the tinana (body).”

Takitimu

Moteo Marae Reserve

Moteo Marae is situated 9.7km from the suburb of Taradale in Napier. The local Puketapu community, the marae whānau, hapū, iwi and kōhanga reo can all benefit from the marae based māra.

Aunty’s Garden – Waipatu Marae

The inspiration for the “Aunty’s Garden” concept, Hanui Lawrence, has always been keen to share her knowledge and skills with others and is the driving force behind the Waipatu Marae Māra Kai. The idea is to support the Marae community through participation and learning to grow a māra as well as sharing the produce to support healthy eating.

Te Tai Hauāuru

Taumarunui

There’s been a real proliferation of māra kai in Taumarunui this year with two Kōhanga Reo, one Kura, two Marae and one rest home establishing māra – and a total of eleven new Taumarunui māra. The Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust has supported the development of five māra kai.

Tahuri Whenua

When Tahuri Whenua Incorporated Society was asked to be the contractor for 30 māra kai projects across Te Tai Hauāuru, participating rōpu were supported with a kick start package that included corn, taewa and potato seed, information booklets and plants.

Te Whanganui ā Tara

Kōkiri Marae Keriana Olsen Trust Hauora Services

Kōkiri Marae Hauora Services are using the māra kai project to not only improve the health of their whānau and rohe but are looking to give local kaumātua the opportunity to pass on their knowledge and wisdom to Māori and to assist them in getting back on track in life.

Te Waipounamu

Te Rōpu Tautoko ki te Tonga

Te Rōpu Tautoko Ki Te Tonga engaged a ‘māra kai exponent’ in the form of kaumātua Ngāti Kahu McGee to mentor ten whānau to develop their own māra kai using traditional techniques, while also gaining an appreciation of the historical and tikanga significance of māra kai.