Dr Seini Taufa, Research Lead at Moana Research and active member of the Onehunga Tongan Methodist congregation, serves as an independent evaluator of the TCP pilot project. In her capacity as evaluator of the programme, Seini shares her thoughts and reflections on the TCP project introduced in the May Touchstone.

Part 2/2 of an article in the May edition of Touchstone

1 Corinthian 3:6

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

Isaac Newton quoted, "If I can see further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." As a New Zealand-born Tongan, my brain says out loud, "I'm sure Isaac had some Pacific blood" because the quote resonates with every child of the diaspora with migrant parents.

As well as having solid and sturdy shoulders, our giants from the Dominion Road Tongan Methodist Church were visionary. Tongamai is a testament to the blessings their descendants now reap because of the vision and foresight of their grandparents (seeds they planted) to purchase land.

During and post Covid-19 lockdown, food security was a significant concern for Pacific communities in Auckland. The Tongamai Community Plantation (TCP) initiative attempted to address food security. Using traditional Tongan concepts of Tokateu, Tōta'u, Tauhi, and Ututa'u, congregation members were able to prepare, plant, nurture, and harvest on Tongamai.

1. Tokateu - Preparation phase

2. Tōta'u - Planting phase

3. Tauhi - Nurturing phase

4. Ututa'u - Harvesting phase

Although I was born and raised in New Zealand and am a member of the NZ Methodist Church, I only became aware of Tongamai when asked to evaluate the initiative and prepare a report for the Ministry for Pacific People, who helped fund the phases.

In Tongan culture, the first fruits (polopola) are often given to our chiefs/leaders, including church leaders and people of importance within the family. On ANZAC Day, we gathered as a community to celebrate the harvest (ututa'u) at Tongamai. Tongamai was fortunate to have the Hon Prime Minister of Tonga Hu'akavameiliku (Siaosi Sovaleni), Tongan Consul Stafford 'Aho and Labour List MP Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki who added to the mana of the occasion.

Upon arriving at Tongamai, I was mafana (filled with joy). I saw grandparents working alongside their mokopuna, with Tongan music playing and elders dancing – all in acknowledgment that though they planted and watered, God helped their seeds grow.

We listened to testimonies of how this simple communal garden helped our men with their holistic wellbeing, where they could be one with nature and build camaraderie with their fellow church members. Young people shared about the intergenerational transfer of Tongan knowledge and how blessed they were to help their fathers, mothers and grandparents.

The evaluator in me sat during the speeches and counted the boxes of kumara, each with an average weight of 25kgs. While trucks were going in and out, I took to Google to find out how much a kilo of kumara costs. I learned it costs $9.99 for 800 grams of organic kumara. That meant that every box contained $312.00 worth of produce.

I estimate that at least 800 boxes were distributed, worth over $249,000 a six-fold return on government investment. I suspect this fact will make the Ministry extremely happy.

Tongamai is not the only communal garden owned by a Tongan church; however, to my knowledge, it is the only one that is evaluated. The descendants of those who planted are also visionary, with different talents. While some are gifted gardeners, others are gifted proposal writers who are aware that in an environment where everything is “evidence-based” evaluations are part of the watering.

If we are to take away learnings from Tongamai, we must remember that:

a. A village approach to wellbeing works.

b. We have the means to build our food security.

c. We should utilise the talents in our church to not only use the supports within the church but look beyond the horizon and work alongside government and other agencies.