Guiding locally-led kai futures
- Lucy Kingsbeer
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Across Aotearoa, communities are reimagining their relationship with kai — drawing on deep knowledge, lived experience, and collective strength to shape food systems that reflect who they are and what they value.
Supporting this growing movement, the Healthy Families NZ workforce co-developed a national theory of change for Kai sovereignty: a shared framework to guide systems change grounded in local realities, mātauranga Māori, and whānau aspirations. It offers a clear and unified pathway for practitioners working in locally led food systems — setting out how we move together toward a future where communities can fully exercise their mana motuhake and reshape the kai system to be equitable, regenerative, culturally grounded, and resilient.
The development of the Kai Sovereignty theory of change was a collective effort led by a subgroup of the Lead Systems Innovators community of practice, bringing together Catherine Powel (Healthy Families Waitākere), Julio Bin (Healthy Families South Auckland), and Rachel and Sophie (Healthy Families Far North). Together, they drew on the wisdom and insight of kaimahi across the motu with deep experience in locally led design, weaving together regional perspectives to shape a national framework grounded in place, mātauranga Māori, and whānau aspirations.
A pivotal contribution came from Julio, who led the cross-site analysis of each location’s existing theory of change — helping to surface common threads and a shared strategic direction.
“My intention was to bring our diverse local experiences together into one cohesive vision,” says Julio. “This Theory of Change is a starting point, a strategic tool that helps us unify and amplify our efforts nationally, while staying grounded in the values and realities of the communities we serve. It’s the first step toward building a national kai strategy for Healthy Families NZ”.
To strengthen its cultural integrity, Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitīkei Ruapehu (WRR) led refinement of the structure, working closely with their Rautaki Māori to embed the framework in te ao Māori, matauranga and a Tiriti-led approach. Healthy Families WRR Kaituruki Pūnaha, Dave Hursthouse, explains:
“A Theory of Change can be seen as a strategic map – a way to describe where we want to go, what needs to shift to get there, and how we’ll know we’re on the right path. This work aims to articulate the shared vision and values of a national movement that sees kai not just as physical nourishment but also as spiritual, social, cultural, and ecological sustenance.
Kai is a powerful site of transformation and our whānau are hungry for change. Our hope is that this Theory of Change can guide us collectively in growing a community-led wellness system that is connected through kai.”
Designed as a tool for anyone working in this space — from policy advocates to grassroots growers — the Theory of Change outlines the systemic shifts needed to realise food systems that are led by whānau, reflective of place, and accountable to future generations.
“This theory of change is about anchoring our mahi in shared purpose — not just across Healthy Families sites, but with anyone working toward food sovereignty and equitable kai systems,” says Catherine Powel. “It brings together what we’ve heard, seen and supported in our communities, and offers a way to move with collective focus and intent.”
The outcome it envisions is a future where communities across Aotearoa are confidently leading the transformation of our kai systems. Within this unified movement, whānau and communities are fully exercising their mana motuhake to actualise kai sovereignty and security — bringing to life their own kai needs and aspirations.
Living within equitable, resilient and sustainable local kai systems, all people have access to nourishing, culturally appropriate kai. These systems are environmentally regenerative, culturally empowering, socially connecting, spiritually intact, and mana-enhancing. Thriving local kai systems are recognised as health prevention systems, supporting holistic wellbeing across diverse communities.
“This wasn’t about creating something new from scratch — it was about recognising the leadership already alive in our places, the mātauranga already guiding local movements, and weaving that into something we could all use to keep momentum growing,” adds Catherine.
The Theory of Change is now publicly available, offering a touchstone for collective action — and a reminder that the future of kai in Aotearoa is one we are building together.
