Food Systems, Indigenous Knowledge and Systems Thinking: A Case Study in Regional New Zealand

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Systems Science
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Background:

• Poor nutritional health among children (tamariki) in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) necessitates targeted interventions.
• The Nourishing Hawke's Bay (NHB) initiative addresses regional food insecurity and evaluates the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch program.
• NHB aims to improve the wider regional food ecosystem through community-driven approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the co-design and evaluation of food interventions using systems thinking and mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge).
• To integrate community perspectives and traditional knowledge into food system improvements.
• To outline a novel approach for enhancing child nutrition and food security.

Main Methods:

• Cognitive mapping interviews with 11 community leaders identified six co-design principles (Pou).
• Systems methods including group model building and system dynamics modelling were employed.
• Mātauranga Māori methods, such as wānanga (learning forums), facilitated community involvement in food systems mapping and intervention co-design.

Main Results:

• Three key Pou—'food security,' 'mātauranga Māori,' and 'children's hauora' (wellbeing)—guided the research agenda.
• The remaining Pou—'work with community,' 'cohesion and integration,' and 'start with schools'—shaped research processes.
• Standard evaluation methods alongside participatory Value for Investment (VFI) analysis assessed intervention impact and return on investment.

Conclusions:

• The integration of systems thinking and mātauranga Māori offers a novel, participatory framework for improving child nutrition and food security.
• This approach demonstrates potential for significant, sustainable food system transformation in regional New Zealand.
• Co-created interventions hold promise for enhancing the wellbeing of tamariki and their communities.