Mulch, manaaki and mahi bring tenant garden vision to life

The community spirit was alive and well at a housing complex in Canterbury, where tenants, Switched On Housing, Kāinga Ora, and Treetech joined forces to bring a garden vision to life with donated and repurposed items.

What started as a shared tenant idea has now grown into a fully-fledged community garden project, rooted in aroha, built with manaaki, and powered by collective action.

It all began when two residents started working alongside each other to improve their immediate neighbourhood. They noticed ways to make the outdoor space safer and more welcoming, especially for the tamariki.

From there, the spark grew. As the pair connected with other residents, the community on site rallied around a vision to transform their shared space into a vibrant garden filled with fruit trees, vegetables, and community areas. “It’s inspiring to go out and ask for help and get it. We’ve got good people here,” one tenant shared.

Local Kāinga Ora Housing Support Manager Malik learned of the tenants’ vision for the property and wanted to support their hard work. “I really want to make this happen for them. The tenants have all worked so hard to start making improvements, so we wanted to too.”

He reached out to his Kāinga Ora colleagues for more support, who gathered with Maintenance Partner Switched On Housing, part of Kā te Rama Switched On Group, and trade partner Treetech to transform the space with donated and repurposed items, volunteer time, and some good old-fashioned hard work.

Amanda, Kāinga Ora Community Development Manager says: “The people living here are creating such an awesome community. They support each other, take pride in their gardens, and get up with a purpose. It’s great to be able to support them with their garden space vision.”

On the day, the Switched On Housing team arrived alongside Treetech and Kāinga Ora, ready to lend a hand. Residents welcomed the crew and guided the mahi.

With a BBQ trailer on site with kai, the team set out to mulch, tidy, and plant. The mulch, which came from a clean-up at another Kāinga Ora property, was spread with care throughout the complex. Residents were even mulching their neighbours’ gardens, showing just how strong their community spirit is.

Fruit trees — dwarf nectarine and peach, donated by Treetech — were planted in the centre of the complex so everyone can access and enjoy the fruit.

Of course, no community day is complete without a classic sausage sizzle. Switched On Group partner Beard Brothers generously donated the sausages. It was the perfect chance to pause, reflect, and share in the joy of the day.

Jared, Contract Manager at Treetech summed it up perfectly: “I’ve been in the social housing space for a while now, so when Switched On Housing talked to me about a project around food resiliency, it was a no brainer. It becomes a domino effect,” he said. “For me, it’s going full circle. We remove trees, and then we plant trees. If Kāinga Ora or Switched On Housing ever ask for help, I jump at the chance. The mulch came from another Kāinga Ora home today, so it really is full circle.” 

This is just the beginning, with residents committed to maintaining and developing the garden together.

Jared, Contract Manager at Treetech with a delivery of mulch.

And the tenants’ dream doesn’t end at the complex. One tenant involved in leading the project says he hopes to take the idea further and inspire others to create community gardens and grow their own kai.

This collaboration was more than a working bee. It was a celebration of resilience, connection, and the power of people coming together with a shared kaupapa.