The Kai Ika Project began in Auckland back in 2016 with a simple idea: respect our kaimoana and stop throwing away the good parts. What started as a small trial on Z-Pier quickly grew into a city-wide movement, with fish heads and frames that would normally be discarded instead being shared with families who genuinely value them. Wellington soon picked it up and, thanks to the generous donations of commercial seafood companies such as Moana New Zealand and Sanford, between the two regions more than 500 tonnes of rescued fish has now been redistributed to communities that need it most.
This year, the kaupapa found its way to Hawke’s Bay, where it has been embraced with the same generosity and enthusiasm that fuelled its success elsewhere. With the support of Sustainable Hawke’s Bay, the project launched locally and began working with fishers who were keen to get involved from day one.
The first to step up was Andy Claudatos and his team at Star Fish, who immediately recognised the value of donating their fish heads and frames. Soon after, Marcus Desposito and the crew at Saltwater Seafoods joined the effort, supplying all the fish needed for distribution up to Māhia and Wairoa. Completing the trio, Matt Douglas and his team at The Fisherman’s Shop came aboard, bringing even more consistency to a system now feeding hundreds of families each week.
Two key local sponsors, Napier Port and Napier ITM, play an important role behind the scenes. Their support helps cover the essentials – collection, storage and distribution – and keeps the entire operation running as smoothly as possible.
Even so, the project runs on the smell of an oily rag. Kai Ika Hawke’s Bay currently faces a $15,000 funding gap, and the team is actively seeking additional sponsors to secure the long-term future of the service. It is a chance for local businesses to support something that delivers real, immediate value to their community.
The model itself is beautifully simple. Local businesses set aside fish that would typically go uneaten, and the Kai Ika team ensures it reaches marae, community centres and ultimately the families who treasure it. It is not charity, but partnership. The fish are respected, the community gains access to fresh, healthy kai, and the mana of the resource is upheld.
Hawke’s Bay shows exactly why the Kai Ika Project works. It is community-driven, it is practical, and it ensures that good food ends up where it should – on plates, not in landfill.
