Resilience and Engagement of the Community of Ashhurst and Pohangina (RECAP) is equipping people with the skills to take control of their food sovereignty as much as possible. At times, they’ve branched out to initiatives like Community Kai to meet local needs.

The motivation behind RECAP is to support future generations so they can enjoy a healthy planet and a good life. The goal is to give people agency now—building practical skills they can carry forward.

They want sustainable living to become the norm, not something seen as a “hippie” lifestyle.

“It’s easy to feel helpless because it’s so easy to sit there and say, ‘I can’t do anything about it.’ But in fact, there are lots of things people can do.” - Anne

Getting involved locally and giving back is how people are connecting with their communities. It brings a strong sense of purpose and joy.

Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s also about manaakitanga. It’s the coffee and cake afterwards. That shared moment is just as important as the workshop or the volunteer work. It helps build a strong sense of community.

For more information about their workshops and what they do, click here