In the community of Tāneatua, Eastern Bay of Plenty, providing sustainable food security is a real challenge.
With no local supermarket, limited public transport and minimal job opportunities, creating a locally-led source of nourishment and connection drove Tamiana and Honey Thrupp to network with Prescare and others to build a community garden on their land.
Hughes Place Garden has since become a place where whānau and friends can come together to share transferable skills, build on local strengths and address local challenges together.
Not only has Hughes Place Garden achieved its aim to provide food security for the residents of Hughes Place and for the community of Tāneatua, the project is also creating a safe pathway for tamariki and whānau to find belonging, support and connection.
Here’s what the tamariki of Hughes Place say about the garden:
“My nanny gets healthy vegetables for us from the garden”
“I am happy that we can go and get fresh vegetables and fruit when we have none at home”
“The garden makes us feel happy and special”
“It is good to know we have food and we won’t run out”
