A Vision for Food Resilience: From the Ground Up
At the Vector Group Charitable Trust, we believe that food resilience is a complete story, one that begins with the land, is nurtured by community, and finds its purpose in providing for our villages. Our founder, Stephen Fawcett, was shaped by his childhood in Papua New Guinea, where he learned firsthand that a healthy community starts with a secure food supply. This is built on the wisdom of the land and the hard work of its people. Our new website portal, www.kairesilience.food/, is the living embodiment of this narrative, a tool designed to bring these principles to life collaboratively here in Aotearoa.
The Foundation: Mana Motuhake and Kaitiaki
At the core of our mission are two guiding principles from the Pacific Islands: mana motuhake (self-determination) and Kaitiaki (guardianship). These are more than just words for us; they are the foundation of our culture and our unbreakable connection to the land and to one another.
- Mana Motuhake (Self-Sustainability): Think of it like a large, interconnected family where everyone contributes. Your village or island community operates as its own self-sufficient world. You fish from your ocean, cultivate your own gardens, and use the resources the land provides. This is about more than just survival; it’s about dignity, independence, and having the power to make your own decisions. It’s about building a future on our terms, grounded in our own strengths and resources.
- Kaitiaki (Guardianship): Our role as Kaitiaki is a sacred responsibility passed down through generations. We are the guardians of our heritage and this duty is woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. This means protecting:
- Our Culture and History: Our stories, songs, and traditions are our living history books. We are the ones who keep them alive by sharing them with our children, ensuring our roots are never forgotten.
- Our Taiao (The Environment): We see the land, the ocean, and the sky as extensions of our family. We look after the natural world with the same care we would give a family member, knowing that if the land is healthy, we are healthy. It is our sacred duty to protect the Taiao for all future generations.
Our Approach: Soil, Skills, and Shared Knowledge
The first chapter of our story begins with the soil. True food resilience is rooted in understanding our land—its cycles, its health, and its capacity to provide for us. Our approach combines traditional ecological practices with modern methods, recognising that a thriving food system starts with a healthy environment. We are actively working in Te Puke and the wider Bay of Plenty to restore our connection to the land and to teach the fundamental skills needed for self-sufficiency.
This isn’t just about planting seeds; it’s about fostering a culture of food self-reliance through education. We lead workshops on food forest gardening, composting, and plant propagation. The kairesilience.food website is the digital extension of this educational mission. It’s a place where we share this valuable knowledge and provide a platform for local growers and experts to share their wisdom through a blog and a resource library. You’ll also find a comprehensive set of tools to help you connect and build a more resilient food system together, including:
- Listings & Profiles: A directory for local growers, artisans, and food businesses to showcase their products.
- Events: A centralised calendar for all local food-related activities, from farmers’ markets to workshops.
- Community Board: A section for accommodation and job listings, helping people connect for things like seasonal farm work.
- Guides & Resources: A library with guides on growing specific crops, pest management, and inspiration from others.
The Harvest: Connection, Community, and Equity
The next chapter of our story is about the harvest—the act of sharing abundance. For Stephen, food has always been a way to connect with neighbours, support local economies, and build trust within a village. This is where the interactive features of our portal truly shine.
The National Crop Swap and Food Exchange functions are designed to facilitate the free flow of surplus food within a community. Our multi-vendor marketplace once launched is a critical component for economic resilience, allowing small-scale producers to sell directly to the public. This cuts out the middlemen, ensuring a fairer price for their hard work and providing consumers with fresh, local produce you won’t find in a supermarket. This section of our story is about the transition from individual effort to collective abundance and the creation of an equitable food system for everyone.
The Impact: Security, Self-Reliance, and the Future
The final part of our narrative is the long-term impact on food security and self-reliance. By empowering local growers and creating a robust, interconnected system, we are building a more secure future for our children and generations to come. This means reducing our collective reliance on fragile, long-distance supply chains that are vulnerable to global disruptions. It’s about ensuring every household has access to healthy, culturally appropriate food, regardless of their economic situation.
The kairesilience.food website serves as the central nervous system for this entire movement. It’s a tool that provides the data, connections, and inspiration needed to make our communities truly resilient. By mapping our local food systems, we are putting control over our food back where it belongs: in the hands of the people. This is more than a website; it’s a blueprint for a self-sustaining future, where every person has the power to contribute to and benefit from a vibrant, local food economy.
We invite you to join us on this journey and become a part of our shared story.