Fair Food Patron Rt Honorable Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro
Fair Food is humbled to have celebrated International Women’s Day at Government House. Her Excellency the Governor General the Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro is a patron of Fair Food.
Dame Cindy honoured staff, supporters, suppliers and funders of Fair Food with the beautiful manaakitanga of Government House, including these remarks:
“Kindness can sometimes seem like an under-rated virtue, but this whakatauki would suggest otherwise:
He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata – goodwill towards others is a precious treasure.
However, we know kind regard is not enough. What matters are kind deeds.
I am not surprised Fair Food has its origins in West Auckland. Having grown up there – with some of you who are here today – I remember people who worked tirelessly to make things better for other people in their community.
When they saw a societal need, they didn’t sit back and wait until things got better. They got stuck in and did something about it.
Food rescue groups around Aotearoa were started in the same way, by people who couldn’t sit by and do nothing about food insecurity.
What makes your kaupapa so special is that in addition to extending manaakitanga to people who can’t feed themselves and their families, you have also diverted so much food from landfills.
It’s a kaupapa that absolutely aligns with my own strategic goals while I am Governor-General: to do what I can to promote the wellbeing of my fellow citizens and the environment; to celebrate our diversity and our common humanity; and to promote the pursuit of expert knowledge, so that our decision-making is informed and effective.
I know from my visit to Fair Food last year what a complex logistical operation it is. It cannot function without food donors, funders, supporters, volunteers and staff members, or the partner organisations that distribute the food in the community. You all play a vital part in supporting Fair Food’s operations.”
The full remarks are available online and photos from the event are available on Facebook and Instagram.