10 March 2016

Local food for thought

Wellingtonians will get the chance to sample, share, and savour produce from our neighbourhood – with our neighbours – as we get set to celebrate Local Food Week (12-20 March) and Neighbours Day Aotearoa (19-20 March) in the Capital.

Wellington has a large community that produces food locally, organisations that support these groups and food sustainability, plus a growing public demand for locally produced food – and this annual event highlights that.

The Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, who will be sharing apple jelly from the tree in her Island Bay garden with her neighbours, says this event is perfect for our foodie capital.

“Wellingtonians are passionate about their food, and sourcing products locally means they’re fresh and nutritious, and we all benefit economically, environmentally and socially too.

“It’s also fitting that Local Food Week coincides with Neighbours Day Aotearoa, as breaking bread, drinking tea, or sharing homemade jam connects across all cultures,” she adds.

Discover the diverse and delicious range of produce made right on your doorstep with 15 events over 8 days in the city. Go behind the scenes at Kaibosh, learn how to help your garden flourish, or get the kids trained up as dumpling experts – there’s something for everyone.

There’s also a social media competition running, asking people to take photos of their backyard garden bounty or tasty fresh local food produce, and placing them on our Instagram and Twitter accounts with #welllynextdoor and #localfoodwellington. The best photos will receive a hamper of Wellington local produce as a prize.

Meanwhile, Neighbours Day Aotearoa will be happening over the weekend of 19-20 March. Initially launched by Lifewise in Auckland in 2009, Neighbours Day Aotearoa became a nationwide initiative and campaign in 2011, and thousands of neighbours, organisations, local government and local businesses have been involved since, bringing neighbours together all over the country.

As part of Neighbours Day Aotearoa 2016, and Local Food Week, the Council’s Community Services team has provided a pack of “Growing Neighbourhood” edible seeds to every primary school aged child in Wellington – that’s over 22,500 packs of seeds.

Visit wellington.govt.nz/localfoodweek and wellington.govt.nz/neighboursday to find out all about the events going on – and put them in your calendar now.

ENDS

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