About the community gardens
The AUT Community Gardens Initiative (CGI) is a university-wide initiative that supports nutrition, sustainability, and hauora (health) of AUT and the local community. The initiative was established in 2019 as an integral component on an experiential learning initiative for a level 7 lifestyle nutrition course within the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation (now the Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health). It involved a collaboration of communities and projects across AUT with shared visions and priorities in the principles of manaakitanga (reciprocity) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
The CGI has since developed into a university-wide sustainability project supported at many levels across all three campuses (North, City and South) and with involvement across the university including academic staff, estates services and sustainability management personnel.
What began in the first year as a planting of some vegetables and a small fruit orchard, now boasts expansion of the fruit orchard at the North Campus, planting of native kawakawa and horopito, construction of raised garden beds, the inclusion of the City Campus gardening club, development of the Matariki garden space adjacent to the whānau (family / community) room at North Campus, and the construction of the outdoor whare (classroom).
The AUT Community Gardens Initiative (CGI) aligns strongly with Te Aronui and Te Kete (AUT’s foundation documents relating to its commitment to Te Tiriti and strategy) by fostering manaakitanga (care and reciprocity) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship), which underpin AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Through experiential learning and community engagement, the CGI embodies the principles of Whakaawe (enabling Māori influence) and Whakaea (realising Māori aspirations), creating a collaborative space that enhances hauora (health and wellbeing) while promoting sustainable practices. We also include innovative projects that combine sustainability, nutrition, health and mātauranga Māori.
Additionally, CGI supports Te Kete’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of people and the planet by generating knowledge with purpose and forming partnerships that create impactful, sustainable outcomes. The initiative’s focus on student-centred learning and collaborative engagement reflects the strategy's goals of graduating individuals the world needs and building a culture of pono (integrity), tika (respect), and aroha (care) that aligns with AUT’s values and vision of enriching lives and creating a better world.
Our mission
The AUT Community Gardens Initiative (CGI) is a collaborative, multilevel, initiative that aims to integrate nutrition, health and sustainability initiatives across teaching and learning, student experience, and the wider AUT community. The initiative aligns with the AUT's strategic visions for sustainability.
Specific goals of the CGI include:
- To integrate experiential learning pedagogy into the Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health nutrition courses, with the view of extending collaborations to other sport courses; programmes, schools and faculties.
- To create impact for students by allowing them to leave a legacy at AUT through their participation in sustainability projects and the wider CGI.
- To create awareness of the initiative and the wider context of sustainability at AUT, with the view of growing collaboration and creating a setting for undergraduate and postgraduate research.
- To enhance collaboration within and beyond AUT by the development of a CGI steering group, comprising a diverse group of individuals that bring value from different contexts.
Our initiatives
Community gardens
The AUT Community Gardens Initiative was originally established in 2019.
Meet the team
Meet the AUT Community Gardens Initiative Steering Committee behind the strategic vision and future direction of the project.
Contact us
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