Abundance in the face of scarcity

Changing the script and refusing to quietly go away

With budget day coming tomorrow, and it being likely that there will be very little for grass roots communities, disability, or the alleviation of poverty, I am reminding you (and myself!) that we can continue to use what we have to action the change we need.

I’ve been drawing on the following whakataukī a lot this year:

He kai kei aku ringa

The English translation is, There is abundance at the end of my hands. Or, to shift the tense slightly, We have an abundance of resources at the end of our hands.

This whakataukī signifies resilience, empowerment and hope. It refers to our individual and/or collective ability to use the skills and resources and capabilities we have, and using them to grow and develop ourselves and others.

In the face of government indifference to our communities, being able to find ways to support and uplift each other, to show solidarity, and to encourage each other becomes even more important.

This week I found myself at the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA) conference. The pōwhiri and welcome to Te Aratiatia marae was really quite special. I found myself overcome with emotion at times. The short history and description of the carvings and tukutuku panels provided to us was rich and insightful, and highlighted how relationships and connecting with each other is far more valuable than funding. Not that funding isn’t valuable and important! More, we can do great things, important things, despite a lack of funding.

photo taken of me from the back of the wharenui at Te Aratiatia. I am speaking to the group, and the wonderufl carvings and panels can be seen

It was sheer happenstance¹ to find myself speaking to AFRA at this marae.

And yet, it felt like the stars were aligning. The waiata and kōrero from Fairfield College was exactly what my wairua needed. Powerful and thoughtful and deeply grounded in the lived realities of the students who attend the college. Their history was a history of making do on next to nothing. It reminded me that our strengths lie in our relationships with one another, not our funding levels.

There is abundance at the ends of our hands. The kōrero I brought felt so right and in alignment with the kōrero of the kaiako. We work together and support each other, and do what we can with what he have.

Similarly, on the weekend just been, the organisation I work for (Parents of Vision Impaired NZ) signed an MOU with Kāpō Māori Aotearoa. There was no funding for this. Yet our interests align and we are stronger together.

Laughter, conversation, and chocolate cake was shared. We reflected on our respective organisational goals and strategic plans, identifying areas where we could ‘share the load’ and support each other. The conversations continued over a delicious meal; it wouldn’t be a formal signing if it didn’t include plenty of food to share!

a most delicious chocolate cake and a formal document

The reason I share this is that it is easy to get dragged down into the slough of despond. Limited funding and support can make it challenging for all of us. I don’t mean to denigrate or dismiss the value of financial support.

However, even when finances are limited, there are ways we can work together, collaborate, and combine the resources we have to make a difference.

No matter what the budget brings (and I doubt it will bring any of the communities I work with anything good), our relationships endure. We will continue to work for the betterment of our whānau, and this will endure long beyond the 2025 budget announcements.

I don’t know where you and your communities are at, but let me encourage you - the grassroots work you do, the relationships you build, the resources you share will endure long beyond whatever is announced tomorrow.

There are resources at the ends of our hands. Long may we share them and collectively support one another as we work towards a better world for ourselves and our children.

1. The previously scheduled speaker come down with a very nasty form of viral pneumonia and my very good friend called and needed a favour. One never turns down a good friend in need! Also, I did indeed have the time slot free - my flight to other regions was beautifully scheduled for the afternoon. Serendipity indeed!