We elevate Indigenous seed, soil and food sovereignty through education, research, and practices that decolonise our current food system.
Whakaaturia tō tautoko mā te whai i a mātou i runga i ngā pāpāho pāpori.
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Ngā Takahanga e Haere Mai Ana
Upcoming Events
Indigenous Seed, Soil & Food Sovereignty Symposium Series
He Whenua Rongo is a series of Indigenous climate change hui that champion research and practices about kākano (seed), oneone (soil) and kai (food) sovereignty and in 2027 we'll be taking it around the motu!
This mahi (work) builds on the kaupapa (project) first established at the 2024 He Whenua Rongo symposium, held at Te Mahurehure Marae in Tāmaki Makaurau. Over three days, we explored research and practices to champion kai atua (pure food), and deliver biodiversity, food security and cultural heritage.
Express your interest to attend and be notified of our upcoming 2027 dates:
Ngā Kaupapa Hou
Latest Projects
Learn more about our kaupapa Māori oneone (soil), kākano (seed) and kai (food) sovereignty rangahau (research) projects and the hapori (communities) we're involved with. Our projects are both research led and practice based.
He Kākano Ahau - Seeding Hope
Saving, storing, sharing and sowing seeds are flaxroots practices that pass on Indigenous knowledge to future generations. All over the world, women are championing this connection to ancient tūpuna wisdom to rebuild local foodways, one kākano (seed) at a time.
Seeding Hope is a three-year kaupapa Māori research project - by Papawhakaritorito Trust and funded by Te Apārangi Marsden - that documents this mahi (work), tells their stories, creates connections, and delivers change.
Learn more
Mana Wāhine Declaration for Hineahuone
Māori Women’s Declaration for Soil and Seed
Are you ready to stand up for soil and seed?
The Mana Wāhine Declaration for Soil and Seed is an Indigenous women's declaration to protect, nurture and honour Hineahuone - the atua (deity) of soil and seed.
It is a call to action from all peoples around the world to return to our ancient ways of listening to Papatūānuku (Mother Earth), and commit to doing the mahi (work) needed to restore the health of our oneone (soil). This can be achieved by saving and planting Indigenous kākano (seeds), and resisting late-stage capitalist patriarchy by slowing down to make a right return to nature now.
Say no to GMOs in Aotearoa!
Contact your local MP here
Will you join us in resisting biopiracy in Aotearoa?
We're delighted that the progress of the Gene Technology Bill through Parliament has been stalled with the Government putting it on ice until after the general election on 7 November 2026. That means we all have a window of opportunity right now to stand up for soil, seed and the health of our local food systems.
Let's work together by sending a message to our local MP that we oppose GMOs in Aotearoa. To make it easy for you to do this, we have created a simple form that will go directly to your local MP. All you have to do is fill out a few fields in the form we've created. Tihei mauri ora!
Mātaki, Whakarongo, Pānui Hoki
Watch, Listen & Read
At Papawhakaritorito Trust, we thrive on finding creative ways to share our research stories. Have a listen and watch our newly released Seeding Hope podcast or our Seeds of Unity short film or listen to kōrero we've share with media.
Podcast / EP:1
Food as Medicine
He Kai te Rongoā
Guest: Donna Kerridge
Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Mahuta
Donna is a rongoā Māori practitioner, trainer and advisor. In this episode, she shares insights about how growing from kākano (seed) reconnects us with our kai (food) and our relationship with Te Ao Tūroa (the natural world).
Podcast / EP:2
Indigenous Knowledge as First Law of Aotearoa
Guest: Matariki Carr
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Pākehā
Matariki is a lawyer, writer and activist who shares knowledge about how the Māori legal system evolved from the whenua (land), what life was like before capitalist partiarchy and why we need to stand up and fight against the introduction of GMOs.
Release date: 8 October
Podcast / EP:3
Decolonisation, Indigeneity and Food Sovereignty
Guest: Linda Tuhiwai Smith
Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou, and Tūhourangi
Linda is a professor of Indigenous education at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. In this episode, she shares how to decolonise in ways that protect kai atua (pure food) and te Taiao (the environment).
Release date: 15 October
Pātaka Kai: Growing kai sovereignty, 95bFM
Growing kai sovereignty, RNZ Saturday Morning
Rematriating our homes and food systems
Rematriating our homes and food systems
Ngā Ara Ako
Learning Paths
Have the confidence to build up your māra with Jessica Hutchings at your side, by signing up to our Indigenous-led online courses. These online courses are founded in kaupapa (principles and values) of hua parakore (Māori organics).
Introduction to growing clean kai for your whānau
This online gardening course includes all the basics about how to start your māra. From growing veges to composting to saving seeds and creating healthy soil.
NZD $10
Introduction to Hua Parakore food production
Learn about the Hua Parakore system of food production for kai atua (pure food) that is run by Te Waka Kai Ora (National Māori Organics Authority).
NZD $345
Ngā Ratonga Tohutohu
Consultancy Services
To spread the word about oneone (soil), kākano (seed), and kai (food) sovereignty, we develop film and media, events, kaupapa Māori research, and customised courses. Learn more about the services we offer.
Film & Media
Storytelling is at the heart of how we share Indigenous knowledge and communicate our research. Collaborate with us to create films, podcasts, blogs and more.
Speaking & Events
Collaborate with Papawhakaritorito to develop a unique hui for your audience or invite Dr Jessica Hutchings for a speaking engagement at your next wānanga.
Kaupapa Māori Research
Commission Dr Jessica Hutchings, Jo Smith and their rangahau (researcher) networks to create and deliver kaupapa Māori research on oneone (soil), kākano (seed), kai (food) sovereignty, and Indigenous knowledge.
Customised Courses
Support your staff, organisation or kaupapa to learn from our experienced educators. Papawhakaritorito Trust can work with you to create customised courses or offer our online courses for your team.
Ngā Whakaputanga Hou
Latest Publications
We regularly write pukapuka (books) and pūrongo (reports). Check out some of our most recent mahi (work) below.
Pukapuka | Book
Pātaka Kai: Growing kai sovereignty
$45.00 NZD
Pātaka Kai is a recently released pukapuka created by a collaboration between Papawhakaritorito Trust founders Dr Jessica Hutchings and Dr Jo Smith, kaupapa Māori visual artist Johnson Witehira and kairangahau Yvonne Taura.
This flaxroots investigation melds the realities of Māori and Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwi growers with Indigenous knoweldge insights to reveal the diverse solutions we need for improving our food futures.
Get your copy now
Pūrongo | Report
He Whenua Rongo
Free
Building Māori kai and soil resilient communities through Indigenous knowledge.
He Whenua Rongo began its journey as a seven-month kaupapa Māori research project, conducted by Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust and led by Dr. Jessica Hutchings in partnership wih Te Waka Kai Ora (National Māori Organics Authority) with support from AATEA Solutions, a kaupapa Māori research, facilitation and translation consultancy.
This report shares the findings from this initial project.
Get your copy nowNgā Pūrongo me ngā Tirohanga Hou
News & Views
Inspiring Kai Stories from Tāmaki Makaurau
Kai sovereignty is thriving in parts of Tāmaki Makaurau, thanks to the dedication of urban marae implementing localised food systems. Learn about five urban marae in the most populated city in Aotearoa and how they're championing soil and kai sovereignty in their rohe.
Why Small-Scale Food Production is the Future
As part of writing the book Pātaka Kai: Growing kai sovereignty, we spoke to 17 food growers from Aotearoa and Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa with their stories revealing the diverse solutions we need for improving our food futures. Learn more about them.
Indigenous Soil Sovereignty - Investigating Reindigenising Practices
Indigenous soil sovereignty is the authority of Indigenous communities to govern and protect their ancestral lands and soils. Learn more about the relationship between land, culture, and identity.
Tā Mātou Mahi Tahi Hou
Recent Collaborations
Huntress Wines and Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust
Pioneering wāhine collective launch first-ever organic Māori wine
The seven phases of summer are when the art of winemaking occurs and these transitions are captured in Matiti - the first-ever Māori organic wine to be made in Aotearoa by a Māori women's winemaking collective.
With Māori under-represented in the wine and beverage sector, the Matiti collective seeks to change this paradigm with the release of their first vintage - the Pétillant naturel Riesling 2024.
Learn more
Mai i tā mātou toa
From Our Store
From Papawhakaritorito Trust aprons to māra (garden) planners to pukapuka (books) to wāina (wine) to māra kai (gardening) greeting cards, we've got you sorted!
Tamariki Aprons
NZD $30
Our tamariki apron features the Papawhakaritorito logo front and centre and can be bought to encourage your tamariki into the whareumu (kitchen) and outside into the māra (garden).
Made to last from durable 100% rain-fed organic cotton, this apron features large front pocket to hold things and an adjustable velcro strap to fit for longer and grow with any child. Pictured is the tamariki of designer Johnson Witehira.
Purchase here
Show your support and become a part of our whānau
Help us build global Indigenous networks to support seed, soil and food sovereignty
For us to do our work, we rely on the philanthrophy and kindness of individuals and organisations. Every little bit counts towards supporting us to deliver research and practices that decolonise our current food system. Fill out the form below to share as little as $1NZD per day in monthly or annual installments.
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