More Than Food
Reconnecting Kai, Community, and Place in West Auckland
Kai has always been about more than food. Across West Auckland, stories of gardens, shared meals, fruit trees and family networks reflect a deep understanding of kai as a way of caring for one another. For many whānau, food was grown together, shared freely, and prepared in ways that carried memory, culture and connection to whenua. These practices weren’t just about nourishment — they were about belonging, responsibility, and staying connected to each other across generations.
Kai West is committed to keeping these stories and experiences of the past alive, bringing them into the present community engagements they have, to inform the future of our local food systems. Shaped by community voice and led by those most impacted, the initiative creates opportunities for people to come together, share knowledge and explore practical actions that strengthen local food resilience. From neighbourhood kōrero to locally driven initiatives, Kai West is not owned by any one organisation but held collectively by the communities and groups who contribute to it.
What continues to emerge through Kai West is not a single programme or solution, but a movement grounded in memory, culture and collective strength. By honouring the whakapapa of kai and supporting communities to lead in ways that make sense for them, Kai West is helping to build a more connected, resilient food system — one that reflects the values, histories and aspirations of West Auckland communities.
Community Waitākere is connected to this kaupapa through its participation in the Kai West Steering Committee, with Lynnette van Nes representing the organisation as part of the wider collective. Her role focuses on listening, relationship-building and helping create the conditions for community voice to guide the work. By supporting conversations, connecting people across places and contributing to neighbourhood-level forums we lay the foundations to move from ideas to shared action, toward local food sovereignty. Community Waitākere plays a behind-the-scenes role, bringing a community development perspective to support local leadership and encourage shared learning.