CULTIVATE CHRISTCHURCH
Ruia ngā kākano o te tūmanako ki roto i te māra o te hinengaro
Sow the seeds of hope in the garden of the mind
Cultivate Christchurch is a youth development non profit organisation that aims to cultivate rangatahi (young people), food and community.
Cultivate Christchurch empowers rangatahi to thrive through connection to te taiao, meaningful work, and community. We support young people to build confidence, wellbeing, and pathways into education and employment while restoring the environment for future generations.
Cultivate Christchurch provides a suite of youth development and environmental programmes grounded in manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness, generosity, support), hauora (holistic health) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection of the natural environment).
Our kaupapa supports rangatahi aged 14–24 and enables community engagement through Wednesday working bees 9-11.30 every week. For youth programmes, see below.
Our programmes operate across three levels:
1. Whakauru – Engagement and Confidence Building
Rangatahi connect with a mentor or complete community service on our urban farm. They learn basic horticulture, teamwork, self-care and tikanga māra kai in a low-pressure environment. This stage builds confidence, friendships, a sense of belonging, and trust in staff and mentors.
2. Whakangungu Mahi – Employment Training and Work Experience
Cultivate Explore is an 8-week work-experience pathway in a real work environment. Rangatahi gain job-readiness skills, improved wellbeing, NZQA horticulture certificate, industry references, and opportunities for ongoing volunteering or placements while working toward employment, education, or training.
3. Whai Ā muri – Alumni and Ongoing Support
Graduates join our Alumni Network, accessing mentoring, employment support, and a place to return if challenges arise. This continuity of care fosters long-term resilience and wellbeing.
Environmental Action and Education
Through organic horticulture, regenerative practices, māra kai, and conservation partnerships, rangatahi actively restore whenua, enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, and learn climate-positive skills. Our urban farm model strengthens kai sovereignty, reduces waste, and builds local food resilience for future generations. We collaborate with conservation groups, adventure therapists, and local environmental projects across Waitaha to expose rangatahi to whenua-based learning that is accessible and sustainable.
Community Capacity Building
Cultivate strengthens community capability by partnering with locals, schools, NGOs, agencies, mana whenua, and local businesses. Our farm hosts intergenerational learning, preschool visits, student projects, volunteer groups, and service-learning placements—expanding environmental literacy and community involvement in climate adaptation.
Between 2014 and 2021 we successfully ran a youth programme offering employment to rangatahi within an urban farming environment. Cultivate Christchurch managed the urban farm and our youth interns worked alongside our farming team and volunteers to develop personal skills, employment skills and connect with the community. We grew and sold high quality veggies to hospitality and homes throughout Christchurch. See our Impact Report for full details.