Matariki Heri Kai

We’re here to encourage you to consider the role food plays in how we see ourselves, and we’re currently focussing on the Matariki period with our Feast Matariki activations.

So today we’re launching ‘Our Kai Stories’! Our upcoming generations are increasingly exploring their relationship with food and its connection to our land and ocean, and we think that’s worth celebrating.

Over the next month we’ll be encouraging the sharing of these stories with cash and other prizes. The stories can be written, poems, photos or video clips. We thought we’d get the creative juices going by sharing this one, starring the daughter of one of our current Kaitaki, Iti from Ahika Pitmasters.

If you know young people who love finding, cooking or growing food, encourage them to get involved!

We’re also announcing two more events as part of our Feast Matariki at Te Matatiki Toi Ora I The Christchurch Arts Centre. The first is 'The Future of Kai’ led by Kahurangi Carter and including a star-studded cast of humans growing food communities and how we might all feed ourselves in the future.

And we have a Te Tiriti O Waitangi workshop with the wonderful Dr Hana O’Regan ONZM. As we enter one of the most important periods in history for our founding document, it’s a great moment to get up to speed with our history and where it might lead us in the future.

Both of these events are free and part of our commitment to imagine an abundant food future for all New Zealanders.

We are also super excited to see the national theme for Matariki 2024 is Matariki Heri Kai - The Feast of Matariki. Matariki Heri Kai comes from the Māori proverb “Matariki whetū heri kai” meaning “Matariki, the bringer of food”. As announced by chief adviser Mātauranga Matariki, Professor Rangi Mātāmua. You can read more about this year's theme here.

Angela Clifford, CE Eat New Zealand.

@eat.newzealand #KnowYourFarmer #KnowYourFisher #EatNZGrains #GrowFoodCommunities #EatNZKaitaki #RepurposeTheSurplus #Biodiversity #FeastMatariki #TheShortestMeal #KaiHauKai

Check out the full Feast Matariki Programme here!

Ōtautahi Christchurch Events:

All happening at Te Matatiki Toi Ora CHCH Arts Centre

• Friday 21st June: The Shortest Hīkoi with Makarini Rupene
• Saturday 22nd June: Kai Hau Kai - Bring Something to the Table
• Sunday 23rd June: The Future of Kai with Kahurangi Carter
• Wednesday 26th June: Te Tiriti O Waitangi Workshop-Dr Hana O'Regan
• Thursday 27th June: Hakari | The Feast with Base Food by Fire

The Shortest Hīkoi with Makarini

Come for a walk with us and Makarini Rupene, an experienced mahika kai practitioner who lives and breathes Kai Tahu customary knowledge and practice.

It will be a version of Ōtautahi Christchurch you've never seen before!

We'll return to Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre to enjoy the kai of Adam Harrison, local wild food chef and Eat NZ Kaitaki, in time for the opening of Tīrama Mai, the city's Matariki light and cultural festival.

Friday 21st June is World Localisation Day and the shortest day of the year here in Aotearoa New Zealand!

What better way to celebrate than to explore the local food scape.

The Shortest Hīkoi with Makarini Rupene Friday 21st June 4pm - 6pm Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Ōtautahi Christchurch Walk starts at 4pm from The Arts Centre! See you there.

Secure your spot on The Shortest Hīkoi in Ōtautahi

Kai Hau Kai Event

What if you didn’t need money to get food? What if you could exchange your skill instead? We’re inviting people to join us for a ‘free feed’! There’s just a small hook. You have to bring along something you’ve grown, made or found to exchange it with the other diners.

In the spirit of Kai Hau Kai we’re acknowledging that everyone has something they can bring to the table. Food will be by the crew that is Base Food By Fire.

Kai Hau Kai: Bring Something to the Table

Saturday 22nd June 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Cloisters Studio, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Ōtautahi / Christchurch

Get your FREE tickets here.

Join us for Kai Hau Kai on Saturday 22nd June

The Future of Kai with Kahurangi

Join the legendary Kahurangi Carter and special guest stars as they imagine the Future of Kai in Aotearoa.

We've plenty of challenges ahead to have access to healthy food that keeps us well, but also many opportunities to re-imagine what that might look like.

Only one thing is guaranteed, the future won't look like the past.

This is a FREE event for anyone who loves food - producers, eaters, hospitality humans, community food legends.

Starts at 2pm to 4pm with snacks afterwards (because you can't talk about food without eating!)

The Future of Kai with Kahurangi Carter

Sunday 23rd June 2 pm - 4 pm

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Ōtautahi / Christchurch

Get your FREE tickets here.

Come along to The Future of Kai with Kahurangi Carter

Te Tiriti O Waitangi Workshop

Join us on the evening of Wednesday 23rd June for an in-person Te Tiriti o Waitangi Workshop in Ōtautahi Christchurch hosted by the formidable Dr Hana O’Regan ONZM (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha).

Dr Hana O'Regan is an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contribution to the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori and education over the last 30 years. She was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2021 and has held many positions across education, Māori development, national identity, Treaty rights and policies, and health. She is an incredible communicator and we are honoured to have her with us for this intimate and important evening.

In-Person Te Tiriti O Waitangi Workshop with Dr Hana O'Regan Wednesday 26th June 5 pm - 7 pm

Cloister's Room, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre Ōtautahi Christchurch

FREE Event - but you must register HERE.

There will be some kai/snacks provided after the session.

Don't miss the Te Tiriti O Waitangi Workshop with Dr Hana O'Regan!

The Hakari | Feast

On Thursday 27th June, the night before the Matariki Public Holiday, we will be holding the cornerstone event of the 2024 Feast Matariki calendar - The Hakari | Feast.

Held in The Great Hall inside Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, this will be a very special evening to come together to feast. The crew from Base Food By Fire and guest chefs will be cooking over fire, showcasing some of our incredible kai and the stories of how it made it to our plate.

With just 100 seats available, this event is already selling out fast! Tickets include a multi-course set menu and a drinks pairing with either alcoholic or non-alcoholic options.

Gather your whānau, friends and colleagues and secure your seats here. This event is proudly supported by Kiwibank.

Get your Tickets to Hakari | The Feast TODAY!

Feast Matariki Nationally:

Our Kai Stories

Introducing “Our Kai Stories” - A celebration of rangatahi / young people across Aotearoa who are finding, talking about, growing or cooking their kai/food!

If you are a young person with a kai story to tell, over the next month @ourkaistories invites you to share your Kai journeys, however you want, and be in to win weekly prizes (cash and spot prizes).

These korero/stories can be written, collages, poems, photos or video clips - anything you like!

You can send or upload your story/artwork/korero or expression from Wednesday 5th June - Sunday 1st July.

Simply upload to Instagram and tag @ourkaistories & @eat.newzealand OR email it through to us: hello@eat.newzealand.nz

We’re excited to have Damaris Coulter Ngati Kahu, Te Rarawa of @therealnessworld as the Head Hustler on this kaupapa - she will be holding this space and sharing some epic kai stories from her whare and across the motu.

If you aren’t a rangatahi yourself, but know of young people who love finding, cooking, sharing, learning or growing food - encourage them to get involved!

Follow the action over on Instagram @OurKaiStories!

The Shortest Meal

Friday 21^st of June is the shortest day of the year. It’s also World Localization Day and this year and is right in the middle of Feast Matariki.

This year we are celebrating The Shortest Meal and would like to invite you all to join us.

It’s a simple as sharing a meal that comes from your local food system or represents NZ food for you.

The ingredients could be something you’ve grown or found. They could also support small food producers, markets, or wherever you find your food.

It doesn’t need to perfect in terms of provenance or presentation. We just want to celebrate the opportunity to reconnect to where our food comes from and with each other.

Shining this light on the darkest day of the year is a powerful and positive way to show your love for New Zealand food.

If you’re posting on Instagram or Facebook tag us in (@Eat.NewZealand), so we can reshare. You can also use hashtags such a #GrowFoodCommunities #KnowYourFarmer #KnowYourFisher #EatNZGrains #EatNZ #FeastMatariki #TheShortestMeal #WorldLocalizationDay