Pātaka Kai

Food for hope and wellbeing

We face a biodiversity crisis and a climate meltdown. Our food systems are broken, our soils are depleted and our seeds are owned by global corporations. The mainstream response to these crises drowns out the Indigenous perspectives and solutions that offer pathways to ecological, cultural and socio-economic sustainability as well as greater connection to food in our everyday lives.

This book salutes Indigenous food heroes from across Aotearoa and Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa whose inspiring stories show how change begins locally and on a small scale.

Written by verified Hua Parakore farmers, activists, Indigenous researchers and Indigenous food sovereignty leaders Jessica Hutchings and Jo Smith, Pātaka Kai encourages a return to Indigenous values and practices to achieve kai sovereignty and wellbeing for Mother Earth and her people.

To look inside, click here.

‘A celebration of the growers and experts focused on changing the way we fill our pantries’ — Sapeer Mayron, Sunday Star-Times

‘A labour of love from a kaupapa Māori team’ — Emma Hislop, RNZ’s Nine to Noon

‘A powerful, inspiring story of growing food sovereignty for our times’ — Dr Vandana Shiva, founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy

‘A standout feature of Pātaka Kai is its visual storytelling. The inclusion of aerial images of food-growing spaces, such as the historic gardens at Ihumātao, offers a powerful reminder of the deep ancestral ties between whenua (land) and kai (food). These images, alongside the personal testimonies of food sovereignty practitioners, create a rich tapestry of knowledge that is both informative and deeply moving.’ — Chris Reed, NZ Booklovers