Te Waerenga
Addington’s very own Community Garden
Helping People Grow Kai, Connection & Confidence
Te Waerenga (formerly Addington Farm) is a community-focused māra kai (food garden) based in Ōtautahi. Started in 2017 by a group of friends who wanted to grow good things in their neighbourhood, we’ve been helping people grow kai and community ever since.
We create welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds can connect, learn alongside each other, and get their hands in the soil. Our weekly gardening sessions include planting, weeding, harvesting, and sharing kai—and there’s always room for more helping hands.
After 8 years of gardening in shared backyards, we’re excited to move into Addington Park, where we’ll have more space for growing, learning, and sharing food together. The new garden will increase public visibility, deepen community connections, and support our vision for a more food-secure, vibrant, and inclusive neighbourhood.
Get Involved – Ōhu Mahi Māra
Come along to one of our weekly working bees — no experience needed. Learn something new, lend a hand, and share some kai.
Weekly Schedule
Monday
- Working Bee: 1:00 – 4:30pm
- Seedling Club: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Tuesday
- Harvesting: 10:00am – 12:30pm
- Washing & Bagging: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Wednesday
- Working Bee: 1:00 – 4:00pm
There’s a variety of tasks to suit everyone—from weeding and watering to planting and harvesting. It’s a great way to learn, contribute, and have a bit of fun.
Follow us on Facebook for updates and weather cancellations.
Got a Skill to Share?
We’d love to hear from you if you can help with:
- Tool and small engine repair
- Carpentry or building
- Photography or videography
Get in touch if you’d like to kōrero or offer your support.
Addington Park Māra Kai
We’re excited to share that the lease for a new māra kai (community vege garden) in Addington Park has been officially approved!
The garden will be located in the south corner of Addington Park (Barrington Street and Jerrold Street North), and won’t affect the existing sports field. This space will be for the benefit of the whole Addington community — a place to grow kai, connection, and belonging.
The māra kai will include four main areas:
Foraging Loop – Vegetables, low fruit trees, berries, flowers, and herbs that anyone can harvest anytime.
Kai Security Garden – Dedicated to growing produce for local whānau, volunteers, and food banks.
Kaitiaki Plots – Small garden spaces for whānau, individuals, and community groups to tend and harvest.
Accessible Raised Beds – Designed for wheelchair users, kaumātua, and others needing easier access.
We believe this māra kai will:
– Create more spaces of belonging, which grow connection and help Addington feel safer
– Strengthen local food security by growing heaps of fresh, nutritious kai
– Spark more māra kai projects across Addington
– Grow more gardeners through shared learning and hands-on skill building
What’s next?
The “New Māra Kai Subcommittee” is now leading the mahi to bring this vision to life. This includes planning, design, and coordinating building upgrades.
We’re on the lookout for 1 or 2 more people to join the team. If you’re keen to be part of this exciting phase, we’d love to hear from you. The group meets monthly over the next six months to keep things moving.
Email us if you’re interested in joining or learning more.
Let’s grow something amazing, together.
Keep in the loop | Follow our FB page
Follow us on social media and stay in the loop with regards to happenings on the farm and in our community.