Ōtepoti is our city.
Our diversity is our strength.
Let’s figure out how to best feed each other!
While there are many dedicated folks working passionately on kai issues in Ōtepoti, the reality is that no single solution will propel Dunedin into a prosperous and food resilient future, ready for the challenges posed by myriad environmental, economic, and social factors. This can only be achieved through effective collaboration between diverse stakeholders (that includes you, by the way!).
Ōtepoti Food Futures is an open, city-wide food Hui that will take place on 16th of November, 2024. Coordinated by Our Food Network (OFN), this dynamic, full-day event will see people from all sectors collaborating to map out the changes needed to establish Ōtepoti as a food resilience pioneer in Aotearoa in the coming years.
We want to hear from community organisations, businesses, local and regional politicians, schools, as well as rangatahi/youth, parents, kaumātua/elders, and everyone in between!
While everything in a healthy food system is connected, the Hui will focus on creating roadmaps for community-led action in two main areas:
Expanding local markets
How do we better support those already producing food locally?
How can we expand local infrastructure and markets to create space for more producers without squeezing those already growing and producing locally?
How can we inspire and empower the next generation of farmers and growers to step into local food production?
What measures can put in place to ensure the limited land suitable for food production in and around Dunedin is not used for other purposes?
How can we support social enterprise initiatives?
Anything else you think needs to be addressed!
Nurturing Thriving Community Gardens
What do we actually want to achieve with our gardens?
What are the most important elements to achieving this “success”?
What are the recurring problems/issues you experience at your community garden?
How could community gardens in Ōtepoti better support each other?
How could the local government better support community gardens?
The event will include panel discussions with local experts, group discussions where everyone gets to have their say, as well as facilitated, outcome-focused working groups aimed at producing real and tangible objectives for the future.
It is important that this event is open to anyone. Therefore, this event will be 100% free and we’ll be providing (as local as possible) food and drink throughout the day.
When: 16.11.2024 // 9:30am - 5pm
Where: The Dunningham Suite - Dunedin Public Library (1st Floor)
