Style: October 01, 2021

22 Style | Feature
be in trouble in the future. Now’s the time to
reject the traditional economies of scale and
seek shorter supply chains on your doorstep.
I know it’s a hard conversation to have when
we’re used to the convenience of supermarkets,
but not doing so will leave you in a vulnerable
position, especially when it comes to fresh,
healthy food that keeps us well. It’s time for
those in urban areas to evolve – to dip your toe
in the water and start.”
Angela believes establishing new relationships
is vital: “Reach out to a community garden or
co-operative, farmers’ market or local producer
that sells fresh, known, nutrient-dense meat,
vegetables, fruit, bread, fish to subscribers
or investors. If the relationship proves to be
successful, trust is built – which will help you if
pressure on healthy food supply to our cities
continues or worsens.”
“It all comes down to values.” says Angela.
HARBINGERS OF HOPE
Kaitaki is the Māori word for leader. Every year,
Eat New Zealand recruits the next generation
of food lovers to join its cause – to connect
people and place through food.
“Our kaitaki are a cohort of young people
representing the breadth of the food
system – from food technologists to urban
farmers, writers to iwi-based businesses,”
Angela says. “As people who’re everadapting,
environmentally savvy, connected
communicators, they look at what comes next
– the evolution of our food story. They look at
the hybridisation going on, the diversity of the
players involved in our food system and how
they’re linked.”
From food waste to Feast Matariki events
that honour indigenous kai, the kaitaki are
tasked with engaging communities on issues and
opportunities that matter to eaters.
“We want to move away from the food
stories of colonisers – we need to tell our
own. These next-gen communicators make me
very hopeful.”
GROW YOUR SUPPLY NETWORK:
DISCOVER FRESH PRODUCE NEAR YOU
CANTERBURY
Farmers’ markets are run often in Akaroa,
Amberley, Christchurch (Lyttelton, Mt Pleasant,
New Brighton, Opawa, Riccarton, Sockburn),
Kaiapoi, Kaikōura, Lincoln, Ōhoka and Oxford.
There are 37 community gardens (and growing
each year) in the Canterbury area, all looking for
keen contributors and harvesters.
Christchurch has two main urban farms – in
Addington and the city (Cultivate Christchurch).
They offer food boxes for pick-up or delivery.
OTAGO
Farmers’ markets operate in Cromwell, Dunedin
(various locations), Frankton, Ōamaru and
Wānaka.
There are community gardens in Dunedin,
Ōamaru and Queenstown – with plans afoot to
develop urban farming in the region.
For more details of these events, locations and
organisations, please visit stylemagazine.co.nz
or eatnewzealand.nz
Read about Eat New Zealand kaitaki: fisherman Nate Smith (page 25), chef Jackson Mehlhopt (p. 27) and baker/chef
Aliesha McGilligan (p. 28). Co-presented with the Restaurant Association, Eat New Zealand’s Food Hui takes
place on November 1–2 in Christchurch, members of the public are welcome. eatnewzealand.nz/events