Support Kāi Tahu and local kaupapa Māori organisations in strengthening food sovereignty for iwi, protecting mahika kai sites and practices, and embedding mātauraka Kāi Tahu to promote sustainable harvesting practices.
3.7 Exploring Kaupapa Māori food projects
Action
Key Initiatives
- Mahika kai: Work alongside Kāi Tahu whānau, papatipu rūnaka, and local communities to protect mahika kai sites and practices, ensuring they thrive for future generations.
- Sustainable kai projects: Support Kaupapa Māori food initiatives that promote regenerative agriculture, innovative food technology, and wild food harvesting, fostering a resilient, locally driven food system.
- Sustainable harvesting practices: Support efforts to enhance knowledge-sharing and practical opportunities for sustainable foraging, ethical harvesting, and the responsible use of wild game and pest species to strengthen food security.
- Emergency planning: Support iwi-led food security initiatives in emergency response and recovery by partnering with mana whenua to establish resilient food distribution networks that integrate mātauraka Kāi Tahu into emergency food planning.
3.7
Project Details
Investment
What is this?
Investment Value (Estimate)
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<$20k
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$20K - $100K
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$100K - $500K
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>$500K
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To be confirmed/still under review
Click on an icon to see what it means.
Key Partners
Kāi Tahu whānau, Papatipu Rūnaka, Mana Tahuna, Te Tapu o Tane.
Kāi Tahu Value Alignment
Haere whakamua - Future focused
Whanaukataka - Family and community focused
Makaakitaka - Hospitality
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3.1Preserving our cultural and natural heritageCollaborate with the Preserving Legacies Project which has selected Tāhuna Glenorchy as an international climate adaptation heritage site. This global initiative, launched in 2023, empowers communities to protect cultural and natural heritage from climate change by providing scientific knowledge and technical training. In March 2025, Tāhuna Glenorchy was officially accepted into the program.
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3.2Ensuring a just transitionStrengthen partnerships between Council, Kāi Tahu, local kaupapa Māori organisations, social service providers, Te Whatu Ora, NZ Public Health, and social investment groups to ensure a just and inclusive transition16 to a low-emissions, climate-resilient future. By working alongside iwi, Māori organisations, and community agencies, we aim to better understand and address the social and economic challenges of this transition.
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3.3Community Resilience GroupsIn partnership with Emergency Management Otago, accelerate the growth and capability development of Community Resilience Groups to ensure communities across the district are well-prepared for major emergency events.
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3.4Community adaptation - Head of the Lake natural hazardsPartner with ORC and Glenorchy community to implement adaptation actions from the Head of the Lake Adaptation Strategy to address the climate-related hazards facing the community at the head of Lake Whakatipu.
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3.5Community adaptation - wildfire hazardsStrengthen wildfire risk reduction efforts across the district to mitigate the increasing threat of wildfires due to climate change. Council will continue implementing proactive measures to protect people, property, and ecosystems from heightened fire risks.
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3.6Strengthen the resilience of our local food systemPartner with the Southern Lakes Kai Collective to implement a strategic roadmap of projects and initiatives to develop a more resilient, sustainable and community-driven local food system.