enhancing food security and physical activity for maori, pacific and ...

Enhancing Food Security and Physical Activity for Māori, Pacific and Low-income Peoples3.2 Iwi pan tribal development of traditional Māori foodsourcesChristina McKerchar and Craig HetaSummaryWorkshop participants suggested ‘increasing Iwi and other pan-tribal investment/economic development in traditional Māori food sources/supply as a possibleintervention to enhance food security for Māori.Economic development can potentially impact in two ways:1. Increase food supply e.g Mataitai reserves, community gardens2. Creation of jobs: e.g aquaculture, horticultureThe role of Iwi/Pan Tribal Organisations in enhancing food security for Māori through thedevelopment of traditional Māori food sources is an area for future consideration andresearch as it offers some potential for culturally specific interventions.It is recommended that:• funding is allocated to research into the role of iwi and pan tribal organisations infood security and economic development through the development of traditionalMāori food sources,• the Crown engages with iwi and pan tribal organisations about how developmentof traditional food-related projects can be supported,• iwi and pan tribal organisations further investigate opportunities to developtraditional food-related projects to enhance food security and economicdevelopment.Problem definitionParticipants at the Māori specific workshops suggested increasing iwi and other pantribalinvestment in traditional Māori food sources as a possible intervention, andeconomic development through the development of traditional Māori food sources.Māori have reduced access to traditional foods compared with pre-European times. Thecolonisation of New Zealand resulted in loss of Māori land with which to grow or gatherboth traditional and modern foods, as well as loss of an economic base; whilst pollutionand over-fishing have depleted seafood stocks. 1 There may also be a loss of traditionalfood-gathering skills. 2 This chapter looks at iwi/pan tribal development of traditionalMāori food sources to promote food security and economic development.Iwi economic development in traditional food sourcesIn pre-European times, food was gathered from the bush, the sea and the rivers. Timeand energy were expended to secure a safe, year-long food supply. Food wasacknowledged as coming from atua (gods) and many different tikanga (customs) wereestablished governing how different foods were collected, cultivated, stored, preparedand cooked. 3 4 5 680