Archive
Tag Archives: kai resilience
16 Oct 25 |
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How Kai Connects and Sustains Our Communities
October is World Food Day month — a time to reflect on how the way we grow, share and consume food shapes our communities and our future. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” resonates deeply with our mahi at Kaibosh, where food is more than just sustenance — it’s the foundation for connection, wellbeing, and resilience. As part of a student internship with Kaibosh, Holly Watson has explored the challenges of food insecurity in Aotearoa and how community-led action, partnerships, and care are helping build stronger, more sustainable food systems. In her story, Holly shares what she learned — and the people she met — through her time with Kaibosh. Hand in hand Kaibosh and partners are building food resilience across Wellington What we put on our plates every day does much more than simply fill our puku – kai is the fuel that keeps our bodies running, our immune system pumping and helps heal us when we aren’t at our best. Eating a healthy mix of foods can protect us from things like heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. But here’s something many people don’t realise: food isn’t just about physical health. The nutrients we eat also play a major role in our mental wellbeing, nourishing our brain by improving our focus, memory, and other cognitive functions, as well as protecting it. However, for many whānau, this vital necessity of kai is getting harder to access and afford, and the industrial food system has inadvertently created a disconnect between the food, land and the people.
Continue Reading25 Sep 25 |
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Food Waste Is Heating Up the Planet
Every crate of food we rescue for people in our communities is a win for people and the planet. We know food waste is a problem in our warming world – but just how big a problem? The global Food Waste Index Report 2024 compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) found that a fifth of food at consumer/retail stage is wasted – and globally this adds up to over a billion tonnes! This is in addition to 13 per cent of food loss that the FAO estimates between farm/production and retail. Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand households waste about 80 kilograms of good food every year, which adds up to tossing out around $1,364 worth of good kai. (Take a look at which foods are the most wasted.)
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19 Jun 25 |
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Kai, climate and community – the kōrero continues
We had big plans for May 1st — a shared meal and conversation about kai, climate, community in Pōneke to launch the 2025 Kaibosh Annual Appeal. “Kai for our people, our climate, our future” was an event designed for connection, kai and kōrero, featuring a seasonal three-course dinner by Everybody Eats and important conversation led by three amazing speakers: food systems expert Emily King, kai sovereignty and climate justice advocate Moko Morris, and economist Dr Ganesh Ahirao. But the climate had other ideas.As a red-alert storm blew through Te Whanganui-a-Tara with gale-force winds and 11m waves, we made the call to cancel the event for everyone’s safety. Still, this kaupapa matters too much to not share with our network. So, we’re bringing the kōrero to you here — online — by sharing our speakers’ reflections and insights on the intersection of kai, climate, community and what shifts are needed in Aotearoa.
Continue Reading02 Apr 25 |
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Zero food poverty – blog
Zero food poverty – will we ever get there? You may have heard our vision statement at Kaibosh: Zero Food Poverty, Zero Food Waste. Sixteen and a half years ago, as Aotearoa’s first dedicated food rescue charity, we set this vision to guide our mahi. A question we often hear is: Are we there yet? The short answer is no. But the bigger question is: Why do we have food poverty in Aotearoa? And to begin answering that, we need to look at some complex, systemic factors that contribute to food poverty. What is food poverty? Food poverty means being unable to access enough nutritious food due to financial hardship. This could mean not being able to afford fresh kai or lacking transport to reach food retailers. The term food insecurity is sometimes used interchangeably, though it can also refer to shorter-term disruptions in food access—such as after a flood or other crisis. The evidence is clear. Food poverty is a very real problem for many in Aotearoa.
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01 Jul 24 |
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Kai Communities – a student short film
New short film brings spotlight to Kaibosh & The Petone Depot A team of four local Massey University Screen Arts students created an awesome short-film project profiling our Pito-one Kitchen Coordinator, Ange Holtslag! Kaibosh loves collaborating with young people and supporting creative ideas, so it was a no-brainer for us to work with these budding filmmakers. They nailed the brief and were a breeze to work with, involving us closely throughout the production and review process. The important role Kaibosh plays is an underlying theme throughout the piece, as “…a connector between food that’s going to waste and helping it safely get to the people who need it.”
Continue Reading10 Jan 24 |
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Kaibosh has a kitchen!
This project has been simmering over recent months. Inside our largest food rescue hub in Pito-one, we have created a new cooking zone! Kai cooked at Kaibosh will use ‘second-sort’ rescued produce which can’t be distributed to the community as is. It’s the boxes of slightly squishy tomatoes, damaged vegetables, or bruised fruit – often it’s seasonal surplus that just needs a little TLC to be edible. Instead of being sent off to compost or to feed animals, we can now turn this food into nutritious, safe and delicious kai to distribute to our partner charities. Feeding people first!
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30 Nov 23 |
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Hutt volunteers do it for community & the planet
Meet the Humans of Kaibosh – stories about the amazing people who contribute to our collective mahi! Hutt Tuesday Food Sort Team – “Is this broccoli dead or alive?” – by Louise Hammersley. Every Tuesday, a team of five Lower Hutt residents gather at Kaibosh’s Hutt Valley depot in Petone, rolling up their sleeves to sort up to 1 tonne of surplus food which has been rescued that morning. “Sometimes you see very strange combinations of things and it’s like a MasterChef mystery box!” This efficient team have become great friends and include two of our original Hutt volunteers, our OG Kaibosh Hutt Valley crew.
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01 Jul 23 |
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Scarcity & Abundance exhibition
Scarcity & Abundance A group exhibition of photography and mixed media at Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba Street, 29 August – 7 September 2023. Scarcity & Abundance, a group exhibition by fine art and architecture students, reflects on the value we place on the resources of Papatūānuku. Over one-third of households in Aotearoa NZ are struggling to afford the necessities of food and shelter. This exhibition re-examines resource use and distribution, kai security and our urban communities who come together to support each other.
Continue Reading24 May 23 |
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Give a Meal in May – 2023 videos feature our community
At Kaibosh we believe that by working together, we can create a world where everyone has access to healthy, nutritious food. Give a Meal in May and help us get good kai to people who need it most. Check out our latest series of short videos below, featuring some of ou partner community groups and volunteers. We’re working together to help alleviate food insecurity in our communities in the Greater Wellington Region. You can help us get more good kai to the community – Give a Meal in May and let’s make a difference together!
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01 Dec 22 |
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Celebrating ten years of Community Fruit Wellington
Rescuing backyard fruit since 2012 How many different fruit trees are hidden away in Wellington backyards? The fruit pickers of Community Fruit Wellington might be the best people to ask – they’ve been rescuing backyard fruit since 2012. “Walking past on the streets, you wouldn’t know what is at the back of properties… hidden treasures that are locked away that we get the privilege of discovering and sharing in the bounty,” says Manuela Fletcher, Community Fruit Wellington. “There is so much fruit, beautiful fruit – organic. It’s unloved, unused, unwanted, going to waste. There is no need for that when so many people are in need of help.”
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