Marae-based māra kai project feeds 400 whānau a week

A māra kai project anchored at a Manurewa marae has scaled up to feed around 400 whānau a week, with surplus produce going to nearby kura for breakfast clubs. Volunteers harvest twice a week, and a small paid coordinator role is funded by a philanthropic trust. The garden now grows everything from kūmara and kamokamo to leafy greens and herbs year-round. "Kai is the entry point — but what we're really building is connection," said the project lead. Other marae are now visiting to learn the model.