Let’s Connect for a Better Food Future

Grow, Source, Cook, Share - Let’s Connect for a Better Food Future

Changing the way we grow, process, and distribute food is key to solving some of our most important social and environmental problems.

§ Have you ever wanted to have a say on the food that ends up on your table?

§ Are you concerned about how the food we eat is impacting on our health, our environment and on our local food producers?

§ Do you ever think about the good food we are throwing away?

§ Do you have ideas on how we can improve access to healthy, sustainable and fair food as a community?

This Friday 16 October, the Bay of Plenty Kai Hui will bring together local people involved with food, to plant the seed for a better food future. Coinciding with World Food Day, this event is a great opportunity to raise awareness of all food issues, big and small. Everyone is invited, from food growers and producers, those involved in reducing food waste, interested citizens and community food interest groups, to government officials, food advocates and food entrepreneurs.

Those who attend the Bay of Plenty Kai Hui can expect to:
§ learn about, connect with, and celebrate like-minded individuals and groups making a difference locally

§ consider the big picture, and discuss local solutions to complex food issues

§ be inspired by keynote speaker, Dr Matt Morris, who will present on Canterbury’s collective response to hard times and protecting access to food for their future

§ have the opportunity to share what they’re passionate about, and become involved with a broader collective food movement.

The event will also feature a question and answer session with a local community food panel, networking, and interactive group discussions.

Community brainstorming sessions held earlier this year helped shape the Kai Hui, which is funded by Tauranga City Council, with support from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service (Toi Te Ora), the Sustainable Business Network, and other local groups. “This event has been planned with support from community food representatives and aims to respond to the needs of our community,” says Dana Thomson, Senior Health Improvement Advisor at Toi Te Ora. She adds, “The Kai Hui is one way to try and reach more people who may want to be involved in driving solutions by community, for community.” “Following the Kai Hui, we’re hoping to form a local strategic food alliance – a collaborative group of people who can advise and promote local work to improve access to healthy, sustainable and fair food for our future,” says Ms Thomson.

Emily Dowding-Smith who runs the Sustainable Business Network’s National Good Food Network is speaking at the hui. “This is a great example of a community coming together to help improve food resilience across the Bay of Plenty region and strengthen its food system.” She hopes the hui inspires other regions to do the same. “We’re working to get regional food systems strengthened across New Zealand and having events like this bringing different people and businesses together, shows that it can be done.”

The Kai Hui runs from 9.00am until 2.00pm this Friday at the Historic Village Hall, 17th Avenue, Tauranga. It’s a free event, but registration is essential as spaces are limited. Attendees are kindly asked to bring a donation for lunch. For full event details, and to register, please visit http://attending.io/events/bopkaihui or contact Toi Te Ora on 0800 221 555 for any further enquiries.

Other great local events scheduled for World Food Day include EnviroHub Bay of Plenty’s tour of their teaching garden immediately following the Kai Hui, and a screening of the ‘Just Eat It’ film about food waste, with proceeds going to Good Neighbour Food Rescue.

ENDS

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