History
The AUT Community Garden 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 course (Lifestyle Nutrition) within the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation (now Bachelor of Sport, Exercise, and Health since 2025). It involved a collaboration of communities and projects across AUT with shared visions and priorities in the principals 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 gardening club, development of the Matariki garden space adjacent to the whānau (family / community) room at North campus, the construction of the outdoor whare (classroom).
This website aims to profile the diverse range of projects and connections that have grown from the initiative. H
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Our Values
Tika, Pono, Aroha
Tika: Integrity - Doing good work
Pono: Respect - How we work together
Aroha: Compassion - How we respond to each other
Our Aims
Food security
Improving food security of AUT students and staff as well as the wider community through access to fresh seasonal produce. Access to community gardens has been shown to improve fruit and vegetable consumption.
Experiential learning
Creating hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students. This is known to create a more positive and long lasting experience.
Holistic Environment
Community garden spaces promote health and well-being through education about food and nutrition as well as opportunities to engage in physical activity.
Social Networks
Creating opportunities for AUT students, staff and the wider community to engage in diverse social networks. Being outdoors and connecting with others and the earth is protective for both physical and mental health.
Growing a better world
Here at AUT, we're aiming to be the change makers of tomorrow. This starts with sustainable, human-centred design and innovation
Sustainability
Providing support to students, staff and the wider community that want to get involved in sustainable initiatives
What is Ako?
In te ao Māori the concept 'ako' means both to teach and to learn. The Akoranga Campus Community Garden Initiative, originally named 'Akogrow', aligns with this meaning; in which students and staff recognise the knowledge that both teachers and learners bring to educational interactions. The initiative aims to create mutual relationships between participants so that they are able to share and learn about food and gardening within a collaborative space.