Aurora College principal Roby Hickman is looking forward to the many opportunities a new community garden based at the school will provide for the wider community. 

A blessing for Te Maara o te Mūranga a Rangi me te Hapori, which will incorporate a community garden, maara kai and food forest across an area stretching the size of two rugby fields at the south Invercargill school, was held earlier this month. 

While the day was a chilly one, the aroha and excitement about the future of the project kept spirits warm. 

“This garden will not only provide healthy kai for our students, their families, and the wider community, it will also provide educational opportunities for our students and support pathways into careers such as horticulture or environmental science,” Robyn said. 

“However, we believe the foundation for success of Te Maara is taking a te ao Māori perspective and incorporating mātauranga Māori. We are thrilled to work with Waihōpai Rūnaka and Ngā Hau e Whā to ensure the continuation of Māori traditional practices and the passing down of values to children and grandchildren and generations to come.” 

The initiative, a collaboration between Aurora College, Waihōpai Rūnaka, Ngā Hau e Whā Inc and Active Southland’s Healthy Families Invercargill team will also bring the community together, create a greater connection with the natural environment and develop skills as a community space, with volunteering, workshops, events and a range of activities to support wellbeing. 

Healthy Families Invercargill systems innovator Rochelle Francis-Barr said community insights showed access to good food was a significant concern in Invercargill, and knowledge and skills were often not passed down through generations. 

“Rising costs and availability of affordable healthy kai are big issues. Families may be time poor or lack the resources, knowledge and skills. Some landlords won't allow tenants to have a vegetable garden. It takes a particular set of skills to cook meals from scratch,” she said. 

“Te Maara’s ultimate vision is to see our whole community fed. Our project team are passionate and deeply committed to our kaupapa. No-one in our community should go hungry.” 

Te Maara 

“Te Maara”, te reo Māori for “The Garden”, is the abbreviated name for Te Maara o te Mūranga a Rangi me te Hapori, which means, in English, a garden for Aurora College and the whole community. It is part of a collaborative initiative to ultimately strengthen the local food system in Waihōpai Invercargill, but has an immediate vision of bringing the community together, enriching connection to the taiao (natural environment), and building skills and aroha. 

Article added: Wednesday 20 July 2022