Tauranga Community Corrections digs into Maara Kai

Tauranga Community Corrections is working with Ngati Ranginui Iwi and Waimapu Pa to establish a new community garden as part of the new Maara Kai Programme.

Offenders serving Community Work sentences in Tauranga have started the preparation work at Waimapu Marae which will see the site revitalised. Garden beds have been filled with vegetable seedlings, fruit trees have been planted and work to clear a bank which was historically used as a kumara plot is underway so that it can be returned to a working vegetable patch.

The Waimapu Maara Kai programme, which is funded by Te Puni Kōkiri, aims to promote self-sufficiency (rangatiratanga); wellbeing, good nutrition, and healthy activity (oranga); the sharing of gardening knowledge, including customary techniques (kaitiakitanga and mātauranga); and involve community cooperation (whanaungatanga).

The programme is run as part of the Corrections Work and Living Skills suite and participants will also have the opportunity to hear a range of different presenters. The marae will organise these speakers alongside offering workplace wellness checks.

At the first site visit, elders spoke about the importance of the work and how the project will work. The next session will cover para kore (recycling & waste minimisation).

Corrections Bay of Plenty District Manager Pauline Moran is thrilled to be able to offer offenders the opportunity to connect in such a meaningful way:

“Corrections is always trying to support the people in our care in a holistic manner, so they can make sustainable, life-long changes. The kaupapa of this project links nicely in that it also has a holistic focus of sustainability and wellness through a connection to the land and tikanga.”

Pauline also points out that growing local produce for consumption is not the only benefit of Maara Kai. Participants will gain skills that could lead to employment while taking part in a healthy, educational, community-wide activity.

ENDS

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