The group behind a new report on Southland’s ‘broken’ food system are hoping to start a movement which will ensure all Southlanders can put good food on the table.

Feeding Murihiku: Our Good Food Road Map, is a comprehensive two-year study of our province’s local food system by the Murihiku Kai Collective, which outlines the challenges and opportunities in strengthening food security and food resilience in Southland.

The Murihiku Kai Collective has brought together insights from local families, community groups, local government, health and social services and food growers and entrepreneurs to inform the report.

“In a society where everyone should have the right to eat well, too many in Southland face barriers to accessing quality food,” the report says.

The province’s geographic isolation, focus on exports and unbalanced local market made it more difficult for people to afford nutritious food and easier to buy unhealthy options.

Challenges identified during the research process included a lack of knowledge about Southland’s food ‘story’, significant changes to land use over the years, the influence of corporations in the food system, and a lack of pathways for local leaders in the kai space.

The report calls on the community to collectively support policies that make nutritious food affordable, advocate for local food producers, prioritise support and resources for kai creators and educators and celebrate sustainable farming practices.

Included in the report is a Good Food Road Map, modelled on a similar initiative in south Auckland, which advocates for a co-ordinated approach for lasting change.

The Road Map features five pou which highlight; celebrating Southland’s unique food culture, sustainable food practices, access to nourishing and culturally appropriate food, zero hunger and a resilient food system.

To learn more about Murihiku's food story, and for a digital copy of Feeding Murihiku: Our Good Food Road Map, see this article:

https://www.sporty.co.nz/hfi/Things-We-Do/murihiku-kai-collective?ts=0.02103752623977173

ENDS

Article added: Wednesday 01 May 2024