Food Sovereignty in Whaingaroa: Perspectives of Food Providers in a Small, Coastal New Zealand Township

ABSTRACT

Food sovereignty has been the focus of much academic attention in recent years, in both the global South and the North. As yet, very little research has been published exploring food sovereignty in a New Zealand context. This article presents some preliminary findings from my doctoral research, which has focussed on food sovereignty in New Zealand. Data were gathered through ethnographic fieldwork and in-depth interviews with people who produce, organise and distribute local food. I examine how various conceptions of food sovereignty are being enacted in a small coastal town in rural New Zealand. This article argues that despite the general absence of the term ‘food sovereignty’ in this community, many practices, foci and values associated with the global food sovereignty campaign resonate with local food providers, including the significance placed on indigenous Māori values. This is indicative of food sovereignty as a spontaneous grass-roots movement that springs forth from the needs of a community, rather than being imposed from the top-down.

KEYWORDS:

• Food sovereignty
• New Zealand
• local food
• localisation
• food ethics

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Whaingaroa is the frequently used Māori name for Raglan, and also refers to the wider area surrounding the harbour. It is the preferred name for the area in this research, and in much of the community.

2. Approximate translations for Māori words are provided in square brackets for ease of interpretation, sourced from my background as a native language speaker. The complexity of the meanings of these words is such that they cannot be described completely in the confines of this article.