About Kōanga Kai

Kōanga Kai is an initiative that encourages whānau rangatiratanga by building healthy and sustainable kai production practices, influenced by the traditions and mātauranga of our tīpuna.

We support entities throughout Te Waipounamu to deliver Kōanga Kai programmes within their communities. By providing physical resources and coaching, whānau are empowered to participate in communal gardens or create māra kai in their homes or communities, and engage in planting, hunting, gathering, foraging, producing, preserving and preparing kai.

Kōanga Kai is about self-determination and sustainability – kai production that puts whānau in charge of creating healthy lifestyles, and that is environmentally and economically sustainable.

Applications for our latest Kōanga Kai funding round closed at 12pm on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Kōanga Kai Tool Box

These resources will help you with your application

Budget template

Implementation Plan

How to create an unlisted YouTube video

“Kōanga Kai represents the energy of spring, new shoots of life and the excitement of possibility. It also links us to the legacy of Rākaihautū, who travelled throughout Te Waipounamu and carved out its lakes and rivers using his kō, or digging stick.”

Kōanga Kai stories

Kōanga Kai – Waikawa Marae

Working around COVID-19 pandemic restrictions proved to be a challenge for Waikawa Marae in 2021, but now with “the fundamentals in place,” the benefits from the Kōanga Kai initiative can be seen through the expansion of their existing māra kai.
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Kōanga Kai – Te Pā o Rākaihautū

At Christchurch’s Te Pā o Rākaihautū, tamariki play an important role in the development and maintenance of the school’s māra kai, while gaining a profound sense of knowledge of who they are and how they are connected to life in a much broader way.
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Kōanga Kai – Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, Rāpaki

Ngāti Wheke has a rich history of kai cultivation with produce used for trade in the 19th Century. Today, Michael Parata-Peiffer of Rāpaki is working hard provide whānau within his hapū with māra kai and he’s not doing anything by halves.
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Other funds you may be interested in

Ā mātou pūtea

We have funding streams available for whānau living in Te Waipounamu, Rakiura, and Wharekauri

Tūātea is a next-generation wave social investment fund that gives whānau the agency to realise their own aspirations with targeted assistance for those striving to create a thriving business.

Tai Neke, Tai Ora aims to support kaupapa that help whānau to understand the importance of nurturing all aspects of their hauora, as well as building a connection to te ao Māori and to their hapori.

This is a contestable fund which supports rangatahi wellbeing, intergenerational leadership, succession planning and cultural development.

Tama Ora can help you create an event, project or programme targeted at keeping tamariki and rangatahi active.