Of the four basic requirements for life, air, water, shelter, and food, only food is consistently left off the urban planning agenda when thinking about our cities and settlements. Food production was once an integral part of papakāinga living. However, Aotearoa (like many nations of the Global North) has actively planned food production out of our cities and settlements. In Aotearoa, and for Māori especially, this loss of connection between whenua and kai has critically diminished the ability to exercise food sovereignty.
The health and wellbeing of whānau is directly linked to the practice of exercising food sovereignty. This project developed short and long term spatial planning guidelines to support a multi-generational approach to food security and sovereignty. Working alongside Te Whakatōhea researchers and community, the research applied a kaupapa Māori methodology to facilitate long-term thinking around food security and sovereignty. Strategic spatial plans were developed to guide the implementation of an iwi food production plan over multiple spatial and temporal scales.
