Esteemed Guests at our Online 15th Birthday Finale

In June, Garden to Table marked a major milestone—15 years of empowering tamariki across Aotearoa to grow, harvest, prepare, and share fresh kai—by hosting a heartwarming and inspiring online celebration event. Supporters, teachers, students, and partners joined from around the motu to reflect on our journey and the impact Garden to Table has had on over 100,000 children nationwide.

One of the highlights of the event was a special message from Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand and proud Patron of Garden to Table. In her speech, Dame Cindy acknowledged the vital role the programme plays in developing children’s practical life skills and creating resilient communities. Have a listen!

The celebration also included the presentation of the Garden to Table Hero Awards, honouring individuals who go above and beyond in their schools and communities to make the programme thrive. These awards were sponsored by our Partners—Rabobank, T&G Global, and My Food Bag—and recognised passionate volunteers, educators, and champions who embody the spirit of the kaupapa. Their stories highlighted the real difference made by dedicated people behind the scenes. Our award winners for 2025 were Annie Cervelli from Wānaka Primary School, Renuka Lal from Mission Heights Primary School and Crystal Hill from Fernridge School.

Bringing joy and movement to the event was a vibrant video montage of tamariki dancing in their gardens and kitchens, submitted by schools across the country. From gumboots in the garden to cooking utensils turned into drumsticks, the montage was a joyful reminder of the creativity and energy that tamariki bring to Garden to Table every day. Watch this space for snippets of the video during our Spring fundraising campaign, followed by the full video.

The event also included story telling, a musical performance and a speech from our Founder and Chair, Catherine Bell. It was a fitting celebration of 15 years of growth, connection, and learning and it was so much fun to connect our schools throughout the motu. Ngā mihi nui- thank you to everyone who helped make it so special!