Kai, Gardens & Community at Victory
At Victory Community Centre, kai is so much more than food — it’s a connector, a celebration, a teacher, and a powerful expression of manaakitanga.
Community Garden: Growing Together
The Victory Māra Kai continues to flourish as a vibrant space where people come together to grow fresh food — and grow community at the same time. This term, the garden has seen some exciting developments:
A brand-new garden shed was built by the legendary “J-Team” — JP, John, James and Jace — who brought big A-Team energy (with fewer explosions, more power tools).
Nadia, the Centre’s dynamic Kai Coordinator, keeps things humming alongside dedicated volunteers, including a cheerful crew from Idea Services.
Monday afternoon working bees (2:30–4pm) are still the best way to get involved if you’re new — expect good banter and even better soil.
Thanks to the Nelson Tasman Methodist Parish, Victory’s community kai mahi has had a big boost — their generous grant is helping the garden grow in every way.
A Matariki Hāngī with Purpose
This year’s Matariki celebration was another stunning showcase of what happens when community leads the way — and kai played a central role.
For the first time, the hāngī featured woven harakeke rourou baskets instead of single-use aluminium trays. These were created in a pre-Matariki wānanga led by the incredible Samara Davis, with support from Te Korowai Trust. Not only did it honour tikanga Māori, it also helped reduce waste to landfill — a win-win.
27 rourou were made and filled with kai at the celebration. Any leftover trays were diverted from landfill thanks to the Waste No More crew, supporting a recycling fundraiser for Natureland. A beautiful loop of sustainability, storytelling, and shared effort.
Food Brings Us Together
Victory’s Women’s Multicultural Lunches continue to be a highlight — shared kai, shared stories, and shared connection. Volunteers like Cynthia and Mandy have been instrumental in preparing meals that nourish both body and soul.
Meanwhile, Friday Night Meals are returning this August, with the community once again cooking and eating together. It’s a simple but powerful way to bring people into each other’s orbit, one plate at a time. Big thanks to the Soroptimists, Interfaith Council, Whakatū Rotary and the many volunteers who make these meals possible.
And let’s not forget the Afro-Colombian Experience earlier this year — a vibrant celebration of culture through music, dance, and of course, kai — thanks to Alexa, Shared Communities, and the wider TUKU 25 Whakatū team.
Whether it’s through a garden, a potluck, a celebration, or a quiet moment with a shared plate, the kai kaupapa at Victory is all about connection. In every seed planted, meal shared, and story told, you can feel the heart of this community beating strong.
Mā te Wā.
