Mahinga kai project progressing in Kaiapoi
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A mahinga kai project in Kaiapoi has been labelled as an "outstanding" community initiative. Mahinga kai is traditional Māori food gathering as well as activities that surround that.
Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson says the Huria Reserve heritage and mahinga kai area, to the south of Kaiapoi River, was an important part of the town’s regeneration after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
"This is an outstanding project and it has come out at the right cost all the way through," he said.
"It is a very important part of Kaiapoi’s regeneration and it needs to be completed."
The project is a collaboration between the Waimakariri District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and came out of the Kaiapoi residential red zone regeneration plan developed after the earthquakes.
The council has completed physical implementation works over the last two years and has now entered into a formal agreement with Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust, which will manage the $1.8 million project.
The trust is a partnership between the council, the Rūnanga and the wider community to manage the district's coastal park.
Funding of $390,000 will now be transferred to the trust, from the 2023-24 annual plan.
It was approved at last week’s council meeting, despite a proposal from councillor Paul Williams to defer it due to the economic situation.
He said the trust should be looking for outside funding, like the Honda Forest, which has been developed to the north of Kaiapoi River.
Community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said the council had consulted extensively with the community as part of the regeneration plan and the Long Term Plan process.
"We said to the community we would deliver this project and we intend to deliver it."
Councillor Al Blackie, who is also a Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara Trust trustee, said the trust intended to seek commercial support and planned to engage with schools and community organisations.
Mayor Dan Gordon said he was pleased to see the project come to fruition.
"The trust will continue to develop this space, which will celebrate traditional Māori customs and promote learning and recreation activity."
Gordon said the council had completed several regeneration projects over the last six years, including sports fields, a BMX track, a dog park, and had redeveloped the marine precinct and the river banks.
A community hub, bringing together organisations such as Satisfy Food Rescue and the Kaiapoi Menz Shed, was also being developed across the road from Huria Reserve.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
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