Kai Rotorua

03/06/2026

Aotearoa Growers' Hui – Only Three Weeks to Go! 🌱

Excitement is building for the Aotearoa Growers' Hui in Rotorua (23–25 June), with over 80 people already expected to attend and registrations continuing to come in.

This is more than a gathering for growers. Chefs, distributors, food businesses, community organisations, researchers, educators, and anyone passionate about strengthening local food systems are warmly invited. The programme includes sessions on local markets, grower-chef relationships, food resilience, organics, storytelling, business models, and wellbeing.

The kai promises to be a highlight, with Kaitahi Catering showcasing local produce, including kūmara grown by Kai Rotorua. There is also an optional field trip on the final day to Kai Rotorua, Lux Organics, and Tikitere Farm.

Registrations close on 17 June. Full hui and day tickets are available:

https://events.humanitix.com/aotearoa-growers-hui-2026

We'd love to see you there!

27/05/2026

Exciting progress on the hāngī pit as we prepare for Matariki. 🔥

The pit is now being lined with firebricks before the stones are placed, helping take some of the heavy lifting out while still honouring the essence of the process. Instead of wire baskets, kai will be held in harakeke baskets — a return to older ways.

The cover over the pit is now complete and things are beginning to take shape. Watch this space as the vision unfolds.

A special thank you to the whānau from Kohutapu Lodge Galatea, who came to help, share wonderful kōrero and kai before returning home to Galatea, Murupara and Kawerau. We are so grateful for these moments of connection, knowledge sharing and collective mahi. 💛

22/05/2026

Following our recent post on the kūmara harvest, this beautiful episode from RNZ gives a much richer sense of the day. 🌿

It weaves together the stories, relationships, history, and values held within the harvest — from mātauranga Māori and connection to whenua, to the importance of passing traditions on to younger generations through shared mahi and kai. It also speaks to the deeper role food sovereignty, community, and collective effort play in strengthening wellbeing and belonging.

A beuatiful listen. Ngā mihi nui to RNZ for featuring us and sharing the kaupapa. 💛

Every year, Kai Rotorua's kumara harvest attracts a group of volunteers keen to connect with sustainable practices and te ao Maori. This year, the harvest circle widened even further, with students from across South Asia joining the mahi on a spring day.

13/05/2026

At the beginning of April, we gathered for a deeply significant moment in our māra journey — the unveiling of our pataka kūmara. 🌿

Te Kete Rokiroki a Whakaotirangi (The Secure Basket of Whakaotirangi) stood proudly above, marking a special occasion rich in meaning, whakapapa, and connection.

Guided by the wisdom and presence of our Kai Rotorua kaumātua Papa Paora Tapihana and Te Rangikaheke, alongside the beautiful mahi of Te Arawa Mahi Whakairo master carver Te Rangiuekaha Kingi, we honoured both the physical and cultural foundations of this kaupapa. The opening of the pataka stands as a powerful symbol of protection, sustenance, and intergenerational knowledge — a place to hold not only kai, but the stories and practices of our tūpuna.

Following this, our hauhake brought everyone together in a spirit of kotahitanga and manaakitanga. After months of preparation, planting, and nurturing, it was incredibly rewarding to harvest our first kūmara and rīwai crops — a reflection of collective effort, shared learning, and the strength of community. 🧡

04/05/2026

Want to stay in the loop with all things Kai Rotorua? 🌱

Our Māra Moments newsletter is the first place we share upcoming events, wānanga, and what’s been happening in our māra and community each month. It’s your way to stay connected, hear our latest stories, and be part of the journey.

May newsletter coming out soon. Sign up and don’t miss out — pm us your email address or via our website in "join the movement": https://kairotorua.nz/ 🌿

20/04/2026

Seeking helpers for our kūmara harvest this Thursday!
9am start. Please message us if you can come. Kia Ora!

19/04/2026

🌱 Calling all growers across Aotearoa NZ! 🌱

Are you growing vegetables, fruit, or nuts? Join us in Rotorua for a Growers Hui — a space to connect, learn, share, and enjoy delicious local, seasonal kai together.

We’re bringing together growers from across the motu to explore what matters most:

🌿 Strengthening our local food systems
🌿 Exploring business & community growing models
🌿 Building a strong, supportive network of growers

This hui is for you, so we want your input too!
When you register, you can suggest topics — and we warmly invite you to present, share ideas and offer support.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Early bird tickets available until 18 May — prices increase after that!
👉 Secure your spot here: https://events.humanitix.com/aotearoa-growers-hui-2026

Let’s grow something strong together 🌱

Ngā mihi, from the organising committee

Jenny, Alison, Sarah, Tom, Georgia, Brit and Alex

09/04/2026

We continue to bless the papakāinga with permanent features.

In the far south-eastern corner, a permanent hāngī pit is taking shape for Matariki. A huge thanks to the Te Māioha Youth Justice boys for their help with the heavy lifting, and to Bunnings Warehouse New Zealand for the corrugated iron. With Ray and Wayne leading the build, the roof is now up.

The design is simple, using firebricks and hāngī stones, keeping a strong focus on the traditions of the hāngī. Watch this space!

03/04/2026

Mataara Marae, Reporoa ✨

Recently, Matua Te Rangikaheke attended a special wānanga alongside Māori chef Joe McLeod, where hāngī preparation was enriched with rongoā and beautifully woven harakeke baskets.

We were also privileged to see Takuta Richard Allen preparing his rongoā oils—bringing another layer of healing and intention to the kai.

👉 Inspired by this, Kai Rotorua will be hosting a rongoā workshop in November with Richard Allen Keep so keep an eye out for more details—this will be something special.

15/02/2026

This past Saturday, we had the pleasure of hosting a beautiful Seed Propagation Workshop facilitated by Jemma from The Eastern Field.
Jemma held the space with warmth, enthusiasm, and expertise, and despite the rain, it was truly a day well spent.

It was an inspiring, hands-on session filled with an enthusiastic and curious group of participants, all bringing thoughtful questions and a real hunger to learn. Jemma generously shared her knowledge on the journey from seed to seedling - exploring germination, nutrient stages, and the key growth phases that set plants up for success. She also spoke about the importance of heritage seedlings, their benefits for strengthening community food systems, and how they differ from hybrid varieties.
Everyone had the opportunity to sow their own pea and lettuce seeds to take home, learning practical techniques, including watering, and how to recognise when seedlings are ready to transplant into the garden.

For our afternoon kai we were spoilt with beautiful vegan treats from our community member and attendee Junko Tanaka!

We would like to express a big thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a special gathering.