The next step towards a more resilient food system in Southland has been taken.

A 70-strong group of passionate, eager-to-be-involved people gathered in Invercargill on Friday 12th August to begin mapping out a strategy and action plan to guide food system intervention in Murihiku.

Organised by Healthy Families Invercargill on behalf of the Murihiku Kai Collective, the Creating A Good Food Road Map for Murihiku workshop was attended by a range of producers, growers, people working in the kai space, council representatives and community champions from across Southland.

Healthy Families Invercargill systems innovator Rochelle Francis said it was fantastic to have so many engaged, passionate people working together at the workshop.

“This kōrero will provide a useful foundation and springboard for action.”

Participants were asked a variety of co-design questions, aimed at sparking conversation and collaboration, including around food activities in Southland, and what resources and challenges exist around food equity, food sovereignty, food culture and traditions, food resilience, and food for health and wellbeing.

Feedback from the day was excellent.

Farmers’ Markets NZ representative Dave Kennedy said the range of people and organisations represented at the workshop had been impressive.

“I thought it was a really great idea to have the Good Food Road Map as the basis of our conversations and to have so many people with such diverse backgrounds and interests and knowledge all working in the same space to come up with wonderful ideas, it’s just a great experience.”

Community champion Jenny Campbell said it was great to experience the collaborative power of the workshop.

“I have been really inspired, after years working in this space, and seeing it all come together with so many more groups. I am just so enthusiastic about the Kai Collective and what it’s doing with its mahi, and the people here with so much energy and enthusiasm and encouragement as well.”

Information and ideas gathered at the workshop will be used to develop the strategy and stimulate collaborative action. 

Article added: Monday 22 August 2022