Bio
Lani Rotzler-Purewa (Ngāi Tūhoe, nō te Schwarzwald) works and volunteers across a range of environmental kaupapa, as well as having led the Ahi Kā class through Cuzzies i te Māra at Taitā College in Te Awakairangi, Lower Hutt. Her mahi focused on teaching rangatahi how to establish and maintain an urban farm, equipping them with practical skills in seedling production and sustainable growing practices. Through this kaupapa, Lani supports youth leadership while advancing Māori food sovereignty and environmental resilience. Grounded in mātauranga Māori and community collaboration, her work fosters connections between culture, sustainability, and self-determination, empowering rangatahi to become kaitiaki of their whenua and active leaders in shaping a more resilient future.
Organisation
Cuzzies i te Mara are dedicated to facilitating the restoration of a world where people live in harmony with the taiao, and whānau are always fed. Based in Pōneke, their mahi focuses on food sovereignty, teaching rangatahi how to grow their own kai. Cuzzies i te māra have been working towards realising a dream for all whānau to relearn the skills to feed themselves in an urban setting. They’ve contributed to this moemoā by working with community groups, schools and colleges across Te Awankairangi to grow māra kai.
Being a part of Generation Kainga has taken their work from local action, and connected us with inspiring rangatahi and pakeke from across te iwi Māori, interweaving our dreams to feed the whānau with a motu-wide network of changemakers and dreamers. To be given the time to reimagine how we house and feed ourselves – to reimagine understanding of kāinga alongside mentors and peers at Pūrangakura has been the opportunity of a lifetime. We can see that research can be meaningful and transformational.
Photo Elicitation
