The Regional Kai Resilience Hui will be at 6.30pm, Saturday August 3rd, 2024 at Gurudwara Temple in Te Puke.

The purpose of the hui is to build relationships with each other and our Sihk whānau. We also want to acknowledge their contribution on local food security, hear their perspective on kai resilience and invite them into the Regional Kai Resilience Network.

Haidee from Tauranga City Council writes:

All Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) offer Langar, which is a free shared meal. Langar was started 500 years ago by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the 1st Sikh Guru). It is served equally and people must sit together to eat. This breaks down barriers, teaching equality and acceptance of others.  It is not uncommon to be invited to share food and a meal as hospitality is an important part of the culture.

For organisations to remember: 

If you enter a Gurdwara be modestly dressed, cover your head (men and women), remove shoes and socks and wash your hands. Providing hospitality is important for Sikhs, often you will be offered food.  In Sikhism, only vegetarian food (without meat or eggs) is served in the Gurdwara but Sikhs are not bound to be meat-free. Many Sikhs not eat beef.

Alcohol is forbidden in or around the Gurdwara.

You are welcome to bring donation (koha) of cash or food donations to the temple to support the free kitchen. The operations of the Gurdwara rely on community donations so it is warmly welcomed.

‘Sat Sri Akaal’ is a greeting used by Sikhs to greet each other, which translates as ‘True is the name of God’.    It is usually accompanied by a gesture of hands pressed together close to the chest – this is a widely used gesture signally respect.

All welcome, email Amy on wbopkairesilience@gmail.com if you have any questions.