Grand opening of our Ko’anga nursery!

30 November 2023

Ko’anga (noun) safe haven, sanctuary, nest

Ko’anga in Rarotongan terms is described as a sanctuary, a safe haven and a nest. And that’s exactly how we see our nursery; it is a safe haven and a nest for our young seedlings to be nurtured before they enter the world/the garden.

At the Mana Festival Showcase, end of November 2023, we announced the grand opening of our Ko’anga nursery which was erected at the Papatoetoe Food Hub a few months prior.

Opening up our very own nursery has been on the PVA To Do list since day dot! To be able to provide and educate whānau in our community with locally grown seedlings has always been a mission of ours. It supports every aspect of what we do and what we believe in. Leading the pathway to kai sovereignty and taking charge of where our plants are sourced and how they are grown. 

What better way to celebrate the establishment of our Ko’anga nursery than with a huge bunch of like-minded beings at the Mana festvial plus the organisers of which are changing the way we see kai: The Kai Innovators!

Raju of PFH did the honours of unveiling our Kaiwaka Ko’anga sign which was put together by PVA volunteers Ayla and Alena, and after a warm and fuzzy welcome we all sang a beautiful waiata led by Therese, binding us while we walked through the Ko’anga, dipping our hands into a pan of water, flicking it into the air, blessing the Ko’anga opening it up to the community.

The intent is to resource our local community - individuals, whānau and groups, with our seedling and to know the whakapapa - where the seed and soil come from, all the way to it’s seedling form. We are proud to have supplied churches and the Papatoetoe Food Hub itself with strong seedlings and are excited to get our community growing and supporting each other. 

The nursery is moving from the Papatoetoe Food Hub site at the end of June 2024. If you would like to learn more about our Ko’anga nursery and how you can join the journey contact us here.

- Ana Ung