Holding onto hope

Tēnā koutou katoa,

We’re stepping into another season here on The Food Farm. Witnessed by the flowering tī kouka or cabbage tree, it’s a time to take stock of spring. Wind storms and late frosts have taken their toll, but small fruit hangs on tight. It reminds me of the whakatouki ‘Iti noa ana he pita mata’ - ‘There is potential in the smallest bud, hold hope'. We wish you hope too, this season.

It’s been a busy few weeks for me, travelling and speaking. Highlights have been the Wao Summit in Wānaka, a community celebration of climate and environmental action. Rod Oram, Victoria Crockford and I launched ourselves into 2050, imagining a hopeful and inspiring future. And I was MC for the launch of Farmers Footprint in Aotearoa, a gathering of some of the greatest regenerative primary sector minds in this country, again incredibly hopeful stuff. As a family we also attended Nicole Masters Soil Resilience workshop at Craigmore Station, an event organised by Eat New Zealand friend and Soil Sister legend Fran Bailey. I also attended the gathering of Food Waste Champions in Tāmaki.

While the news doesn’t always reflect it, there are some wonderful grass roots movements working towards a better future for our natural world, and us as humans within it.

Please also take the time to read the beautiful story written by Kaitaki chef and writer, Lavi Small on the origin of Jaffas.

He toka tū moana,

Angela Clifford, CE Eat New Zealand. @eat.newzealand

#KnowYourFarmer #KnowYourFisher #EatNZGrains #GrowFoodCommunities #EatNZKaitaki #RepurposeTheSurplus #Biodiversity #FeastMatariki #MahikaKai

Kaitaki Wknd on The Food Farm

On Canterbury Anniversary weekend over 35 of our Eat NZ Kaitaki gathered together in North Canterbury for a weekend of learning and connection on The Food Farm.

It was a beautiful and joyous weekend, with everything from raranga/weaving lessons with our Kaitaki Ngaio Cowell (@tiputoi), to a permaculture tour, helping prep the soil for planting Cheviot tomatoes, a Wild Child Ferment tasting and visit to the Amberley Farmers Market, tips on cooking over fire with Ōtautahi chef Maty Johns of Base Food by Fire, a woodfired pizza party, heaps of delicious kai and the MOST hilarious game of vegetable charades.

After several Zoom calls, or only knowing each other through Instagram, for many it was the first time we were able to meet in person, and this was such a special way to facilitate that.

It was a hopeful and heartwarming weekend, and we know with these driven young leaders at the wheel, the future of food in Aotearoa is in good hands!

See more action from the Kaitaki Wknd over on IG here.

What happened to the sweetness

Our Eat NZ Kaitaki Lavi Small is a chef, writer and storyteller. She has generously shared a powerful story about Jaffas and their link to Palestine over on the Eat NZ Kaitaki Substack.

"Jaffas have a long and beautiful history in Aotearoa. We’ve eaten them at movies, we’ve rolled them down hills, but how often have we stopped and asked why they are called Jaffas?"

Read Lavi's full story over on Substack here.

What's Eating Aotearoa?

In 2024, The Spinoff wants to produce long form journalism focused on food and how it shapes this country. They need our help and have launched an ambitious fundraising campaign over on PledgeMe to support what they’re calling “What’s eating Aotearoa”, an equally ambitious editorial project all about kai.

There are some seriously top tier rewards in exchange for your pledge - big or small. Head over and support a new and important kai narrative in Aotearoa here.

Pledge to support The Spinoff's 'What's Eating Aotearoa' Campaign

Kiwis in Climate Open Letter

As professionals who are passionate about Aotearoa New Zealand's future prosperity, the Kiwis in Climate is calling for the new Prime Minister to reconsider lifting the ban on future offshore oil and gas exploration.

New Zealand risks significant legal, economic, reputational and environmental consequences if we continue with future offshore oil & gas exploration. If you would like to read more and to add your voice to the open letter we encourage you to do so here.