Te Kahui Kai Ora: Nourishing Tamariki, Shifting Systems
A new collective has been established in Te Awa Kairangi, Hutt Valley with a bold purpose: to transform the environments where tamariki learn, eat, and play.
Te Kahui Kai Ora brings together a diverse group of organisations: Te Whatu Ora, Life Education, Heart Foundation, Bee Healthy Dental, Eat2Cation, Garden to Table, Nuku Ora, and Healthy Families Hutt Valley, who each contribute expertise in nutrition, education, oral health, physical activity, and whānau engagement.
At its heart, this initiative is focused on systems change - shifting the way schools, communities, and agencies collectively support the wellbeing of tamariki. By aligning efforts under a shared vision, the collective is moving from isolated actions to a collective approach that addresses the root causes of poor nutrition and inequities in health.
The shared vision is clear:
“All tamariki in our region thrive through access to nourishing kai, health-promoting environments, and strong community connections that support lifelong wellbeing.”
This vision aligns with national priorities such as the Ministry of Health’s Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Children and Young People and the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme. By connecting local action to national frameworks, Te Kahui Kai Ora is helping to reshape the systems that influence what tamariki eat and how they experience kai in their daily lives.
To guide their work, the collective has established five pou (pillars):
Kai Ora – healthy, sustainable, and culturally relevant food.
Tinana Ora – promoting physical health, oral health, and hydration.
Hinengaro Ora – supporting mental and emotional wellbeing.
Taiao me te Ao Māori – embedding connection to whenua, whakapapa, and maramataka.
Whānau & Community Engagement - Empowering whānau as part of the solution
Healthy Families Hutt Valley laid the foundations for the pou, grounding the mahi in national priorities, and wove together the collective practices that sustain Te Kahui Kai Ora.
These pillars are interconnected, reflecting a systems approach that brings to life holistic wellbeing ensuring whānau and community engagement is woven throughout the kaupapa and solutions are both sustainable and community driven.
Quarterly hui brings the organisations together to align actions, share learnings, and track progress. More importantly, this collaborative structure is building the foundations for long-term systems change that shift mindsets, influence policies, and embed practices that will endure well beyond individual projects.
Healthy Families Hutt Valley Systems Innovator, Charlie Goodall says, “When we come together across sectors, we change the way the whole system supports tamariki. That’s where the real, lasting impact comes from. This creates environments where good food, wellbeing, and strong connections are the norm, not the exception.”
By working collectively, Te Kahui Kai Ora is laying the foundation for healthier food systems, stronger communities, and better futures for tamariki across Te Awa Kairangi.