Janice Lee
Janice Lee’s ultimate goal is to build a resilient, inclusive community where elders and people with disabilities achieve independence and wellbeing through sustainable food sovereignty, empowerment, and supportive living environments.
Through the charity she founded, Koha Kai, Janice has championed food resilience and sovereignty in Southland, teaching people to grow and cook their own food as part of a pathway to independence for Tangata Whaikaha (disabled people). A founding member of the Murihiku Kai Collective, she works with others across the region on food resilience and environmental action, including co-creating the regional Good Food Road Map.
Koha Kai worked to establish maara kai (food gardens) in all participating Kāinga Ora homes in Southland, mentoring whānau in growing food using maramataka principles. This project aimed to create employment opportunities for Tangata Whaikaha while embedding their own learning as they shared knowledge. The initiative ended when funding was stopped.
Passionate about food security and purpose, Janice sees the lack of investment as the greatest challenge in 2025 but remains committed to long term sustainable solutions. Drawing on her experience with both Tangata Whaikaha and Kaumatua (elders), she is now developing housing for vulnerable communities that will feature maara kai, heritage fruit trees, and communal cooking and learning spaces.
“To those who seek to erect barriers or who create them through negligence, we believe in a dream of food resilience and will not lose sight of that picture as we keep moving forward.”
Janice will be speaking at the Feeding the Future panel session during the Food Resilience Day at Wao Summit 2025.
