The Aotearoa Circle - National Food Strategy
KPMG supported The Aotearoa Circle to undertake the Mana Kai Initiative. This project was started in 2020 and completed in 2023 and involved working with constituents from across Aotearoa New Zealand food system to identify and articulate the purpose and values that should underpin a sustainable, equitable, nutritious, and economically robust food system that works for all New Zealanders. The work was initiated because of the Fenwick Forum in June 2020 which identified the importance of a sustainable food system in supporting the protection and regeneration of natural capital across New Zealand.
The work was completed in two phases and ultimately resulted in the preparation of a report providing a view on the purpose and values of Aotearoa New Zealand’s food system through a Te Ao Māori lens. The work was led by a leadership group which included business representatives, researchers, health and nutrition specialists, iwi representatives, leaders of food support organisations and government. The work was conducted through a series of engagements with people from across the food system to ensure all perspectives were heard and acknowledged which KPMG took a lead in facilitating and reporting back to the leadership group.
Alongside the purpose and values document, the leadership group made a series of recommendations on actions that could be taken to create a more resilient food system and these were launched at the same time as the report. The work is still available for review at Mana Kai Initiative, The Aotearoa Circle with the reports providing more information on the work completed and the leadership group’s conclusions.
