We're looking for someone who loves growing food. Someone who gets satisfaction from healthy soil, productive gardens, and seeing people enjoy beautiful edible landscapes. Someone who is equally happy welcoming volunteers, sharing kai with community, and pitching in alongside the wider Team.
As Kai Systems Coordinator you'll lead the day-to-day care and development of Pīwaiwaka Farm's māra kai, orchards and edible landscapes, helping create spaces that nourish both people and place.
This is a permanent role of 24 hours per week / 3-4 days, commencing in September 2026.
The Learning Environment is a place-based, community-led organisation cultivating an integrated model for learning, wellbeing, and regeneration. Based at Pīwaiwaka Farm, a 178-acre (72ha) regenerating farm-forest and community hub on the banks of the Whanganui River. Our work exists to nurture a different way of learning and relating that is rooted in place, shaped by community, and responsive to the interconnected challenges of our time.
We believe the biggest challenges facing communities are interconnected, and therefore the solutions need to be interconnected too.
Our integrated model focuses on three interconnected areas:
Hauora (Wellbeing)
Therapeutic services that build resilience, connection, and healing. Services that are grounded in relationship with place and community.
Akoranga (Learning)
Place-based education, youth empowerment, and community capability building. Growing the skills needed to navigate uncertain futures.
Taiao (Ecology)
Ecological restoration, native plant propagation, food sovereignty, and regenerative land stewardship. Restoration that is informed by the aspirations of community and the history of place.
The Kai Systems Coordinator role sits within the Taiao Team. The purpose of the Taiao Team is to support a flourishing ecology across Pīwaiwaka Farm through ecological restoration, land stewardship, native biodiversity, and regenerative food systems.
The Kai Systems Coordinator leads the day-to-day care, coordination and ongoing development of Pīwaiwaka Farm's māra kai, orchards, perennial food systems, edible landscapes and kai distribution.
These spaces are places that grow healthy, abundant kai. In doing so, they also become places of learning, connection and wellbeing. Every harvest, working bee and conversation in the māra helps people reconnect with food, whenua and each other. Through regenerative growing practices and Hua Parakore principles, this role supports healthy ecosystems, abundant harvests, food sovereignty, and opportunities for people to participate in growing and sharing kai.
Working closely with the Taiao Manager and wider Taiao team, the Kai Systems Coordinator helps create thriving food systems that nourish people, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to the wider aspirations of Pīwaiwaka Farm.
Growing, harvesting and maintaining productive kai spaces.
Planning seasonal planting and crop rotations.
Coordinating volunteers and community working bees.
Sharing produce with whānau and community partners.
Supporting wider Taiao projects across the farm.
Collaborating with educators so learning programmes can make use of the māra and kai systems.
Tracking data on the amount of kai harvested and distributed.
Genuinely loves growing food and creating beautiful productive landscapes.
Is passionate about kai sovereignty and regenerative growing practices that honour the relationship between people, whenua and kai.
Takes pride in healthy plants, abundant harvests and well cared-for spaces.
Enjoys working independently, strategic planning, and taking ownership of their work.
Notices what needs doing and gets on with it.
Works collaboratively, communicates well, and is happy supporting the wider Taiao Team when priorities shift.
Values guidance and would enjoy working alongside the Taiao Manager to bring a shared vision to life.
Is warm, welcoming and enjoys connecting and sharing knowledge with volunteers, visitors and community.
Believes good food and healthy ecosystems are fundamental to thriving communities.
Demonstration of bicultural competence - including an understanding of and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and an appreciation and understanding of Te Ao Māori.
Experience in organic growing, market gardening, food production, or regenerative land-based systems.
Experience planning and coordinating the care of large productive gardens, including seasonal planning, maintenance, soil health, composting and prioritising tasks across changing needs.
Experience coordinating volunteers, community activities, or collaborative work environments.
Strong organisational, communication, and planning skills.
Confidence working independently and practically in outdoor environments.
Understanding of regenerative, ecological, and community-based approaches to kai systems.
Ability to undertake physically demanding outdoor work.
Full driver licence.
Experience facilitating workshops, education, or community engagement activities.
Experience with food distribution, community food initiatives, or local food networks.
Experience contributing to reporting, budgeting, or operational administration.
Knowledge of orchard management and perennial food systems.
A values-led team that believes relationships come before hierarchy.
Space to learn, reflect, experiment and grow.
Opportunities to work at the intersection of learning, wellbeing and ecological restoration.
Fresh spray-free produce from our māra kai.
Access to workshops, wānanga and community events.
Flexible ways of working within a supportive team.
The opportunity to help shape one of Whanganui's most inspiring regenerative community spaces.
Applications close 30th August, 2026
Please send a CV and cover letter to Ness Radich at info@learningenvironment.nz.
We look forward to your application!
A place-based community-led organisation cultivating an integrated model for learning, wellbeing, and regeneration.