About us

Our purpose is to act as a catalyst for change through multidisciplinary action research addressing critical challenges in the food system in Aotearoa and the Pacific. Working in partnership with other likeminded people and organisations, the centre aims to support the development of equitable and regenerative food systems and to contribute to food-centric research that promotes the health and wellbeing of communities. There is a particular, but not exclusive, focus on urban and peri-urban food systems.

The long-term goal is to use food as a means to improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential, and the places where they live, work and play.

The AUT Centre for Critical Food Studies works hand in hand with the Pacific Food Lab-Aotearoa to facilitate academic-practitioner research collaborations.

Our facilities

We encourage creative and innovative methodologies, and have access to the following facilities for research:

Culinary demonstration theatre

Our 73-seat tiered theatre has a fully equipped kitchen suitable for culinary demonstrations. The AV setup enables live online streaming and participation.

Commercial kitchens

There are multiple, fully equipped commercial teaching and production kitchens suitable for product development, recipe testing, large scale food production and practical teaching classes.

Sensory lab

The food and sensory evaluation lab is suitable for teaching and workshops.

Papa Marā Terrace Garden

Located on the City Campus as part of the AUT Community Gardens initiative, the Papa Marā Terrace Garden has worm farms, a green house and grows a range of fruits and vegetables including passionfruit and grape vines growing up over the pergola, beans, tomatoes, banana palms, eggplants and a wide variety of herbs.

Find out more about the Papa Marā Terrace Garden

Four Seasons

This is a fully licensed event venue and restaurant.