The popular community meals, which have been hosted by the Shetland St marae for the past five years, aim to bring people together in the spirit of manaakitanga to share kai and good company in a warm and welcoming space.
Āraiteuru Marae manager Tania Williams said Pātaka Ora was a "real community collaboration that was all about fostering community connections as a way to counteract the hardship and social isolation felt by many people".
"Through Pātaka Ora, we have already fed more than 300 people this year, with many more to come," she said.
On Monday, Āraiteuru Marae will embrace Dunedin’s Iranian community by expanding Pātaka Ora into a "Community Gathering of Care, Remembrance and Connection".
Ms Williams said the gathering would begin with a tree planting ceremony at 5pm for the Iranian community in remembrance of all who had recently died due to the war in Iran.
"We are inviting everyone in our Pātaka Ora whānau and the local community to attend this special cultural ceremony to awhi [embrace] and tautoko [support] our Iranian community members," she said.
"This gathering is an opportunity to honour grief, renewal, and collective responsibility for one another.
The Iranian community members will then take part in the Pātaka Ora meal service, sharing Iranian kai with the gathering.
Ms Williams said the event would be in the spirit of Māori proverb "Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa/ Let us keep close together, not wide apart".
"It will be simple and beautiful and meaningful," Ms Williams said.
Pātaka Ora committee member Hilda Hughson said it was wonderful that the non-profit, voluntary organisation had been able to continue the community meals for five years.
The fortnightly meals, which alternate between lunch and dinner, are prepared in the Āraiteuru Marae kitchen by volunteers from across the community, using mostly donated ingredients and foodstuffs provided by an array of organisations, including Kiwiharvest.
"Working in the kitchen with the volunteers is lovely, and it’s great to see how the team can start with an array of gifted food and create beautiful two-course meals under the guidance of experienced chefs."
The ongoing success of the Pātaka Ora programme is dependent on volunteers and donations of resources from the community. Taking part is free, although koha is welcome to help cover the cost of the food.
People attending are also welcome to bring containers and take left-over food home with them, as well as browse the other free items on offer.
As part of its ongoing efforts to bring the Dunedin community into Te Ao Māori, Āraiteuru Marae will also host a Manaakitanga Hui on June 27, in honour of World Refugee Day.
Ms Williams said the event would also acknowledge the 10th anniversary of Dunedin being designated an official NZ Red Cross Refugee Resettlement Centre.
"We will be celebrating this important anniversary with gratitude and with a multi-cultural event, where members of Dunedin's various cultural communities can come together, share kai, and present performances," she said.
Ms Williams said the kaupapa of the Manaakitanga Hui and Pātaka Ora were the same — life enhancement, sharing cultures, laughter and community.
"Events like this help to break down the barriers of difference and bring us all together."
For more information on Pātaka Ora and to volunteer, find the page on Facebook — facebook.com/PatakaOra/
The Pātaka Ora "Community Gathering of Care, Remembrance and Connection", in association with the Iranian community, will run from 4.30pm next Monday, May 18, at Āraiteuru Marae, 24 Shetland St.
Upcoming Pātaka Ora community meals at Āraiteuru Marae will be held at noon on June 15, August 10, September 7, November 2, and December 7; and at 6pm on June 29, July 27, August 24, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 14. All are welcome.
