Working bee delivers community food garden phase two

Our community food garden or mara kai is sporting a new shade house for growing natives following a June working bee involving almost 100 energetic helpers.

Volunteers and staff from the Graeme Dingle Foundation joined students, parent helpers and teachers from Westminster School to complete phase two of the garden project.

In just one day, volunteers delivered an impressive range of improvements – a 65m² crushed concrete pad was constructed to house a new glasshouse and the shade house, creating an accessible working space for all. Our helpers filled and planted out vertical and raised garden beds with winter vegetables and established an insect nursery to support pollination.

The working bee also supported the long-term vision of the restoration. Around 800 harakeke seedlings were transplanted into bioorganic compost in preparation for planting out at Matariki 2026, and 200 native trees found new homes within the wider restoration area.

Other projects included prepping the site for a new water tank, building vertical rebar arches for future grape and passionfruit vines, and using recycled cardboard and weed matting to manage kikuyu grass.

Egg collection and chicken care were part of the day's rhythm too – alongside shared laughter, connection and a growing sense of community ownership. All up, volunteers contributed the equivalent of $16,675.20 in time at living wage!

They were ably supported by members of the Te Hōnonga a Iwi team, Upper Waitemata Ecology Network (UWEN) staff, Auckland Council Park Ranger Theo Jaycox and a builder from Wintergardnez.

Project co-ordinator Nicky Shave says Dingle Foundation and Harbour Hockey have worked together for the past three years, first constructing a chicken enclosure, then undertaking the initial build of the mara kai.

“It’s a special partnership that has enabled us to work collaboratively to increase social equity, increase social opportunity, increase belonging, increase local skills and knowledge, increase soil health and biodiversity, increase carbon sequestration, decrease carbon footprint, increase circularity and offer local food security.”

Nicky says the working bee could not have taken place without the support of several corporate partners and other organisations. Volunteers from Schneider Electric and Stride Property Group rolled up their sleeves alongside Graeme Dingle Foundation representatives Harry Silver (lead), Darren Widjaja and Monique Sanna. Students from Westminster Christian School, supported by teachers Gail Goodwin and Kelly Purcell, also pitched in with enthusiasm.

The day was made possible through a wide network of generous contributions – from North Harbour Hockey providing access to the facility and licence to occupy, to NZ Machine Hire offering reduced rates on compactor hire, and Central Landscaping Supplies donating three cubic metres of topsoil and compost. Atlas Concrete supplied eight cubic metres of crushed concrete, forming the base for the glasshouse and shade house.

Auckland Council’s Park Ranger Theo Jaycox played a key leadership role, as well as securing funding for the $7,500 shade house, which was delivered and installed thanks to Wintergardenz. Volunteers were fuelled by tasty treats from Pioneer Pies, while the Upper Waitematā Ecology Network provided essential gear and on-the-ground support.

Contributions to native planting came from Bupa and NZ Landcare Trust (500 trees), Trees That Count (300 trees), and Paremoremo Prison (2,000 trees), helping grow the park’s biodiversity for generations to come.

“The work achieved on the day means people managing disability, pain or balance challenges can now join in alongside other volunteers—contributing their strengths and knowledge to the kaupapa,” Nicky says.

 “Together, we’re transforming food scraps into a valuable resource, increasing local food security, conserving water, reducing stormwater run-off and erosion, and helping protect the Alexander Stream. Just as importantly, we’re creating space to connect, build relationships and grow a climate-positive, community-led future.”