Our current research projects
Supporting the reintroduction of urban agriculture
Currently, New Zealand has no territorial planning regulations requiring or ensuring provision for urban agriculture within new urban or residential zoned development. Subsequently, New Zealand’s existing urban land use management regulations impact on rights to food sovereignty by restricting the ability of urban communities to build and control sustainable, closed cycle, healthy local food systems and environments. This research project has set out to ask why, and how, if the current situation were to be rectified, increased levels of urban agriculture could contribute to much improved food environments and diet-related health outcomes in New Zealand. Our goal is to help facilitate the return of food sovereignty, and improved health and wellbeing to our urban communities.
EatNZ Hui 6 & 7 October
The AUT Centre for Critical Food Studies and the Pacific Food lab Aotearoa are excited to host the 10th annual EatNZ hui here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Eat New Zealand is a cross-sector organisation fostering collaboration between all parts of our food system. They seek to encourage regeneration by building stronger, more resilient food communities and increasing our unique culinary credentials with a long-term view of making New Zealand the world’s premium food destination.
Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we?
Part of an ongoing collaboration with The Conversation, our recently published article exploring why we tend to eat three meals a day was read by over 220,000 people worldwide! Read more
Terra Madre Asia Pacific: 19 Nov-23 Nov 2025
Through our work with Slow Food Auckland, we are proud to have had Dianne Ma invited to speak at the very first Terra Madre Asia Pacific. Slow Food is a global movement acting together to ensure good, clean and fair food for all.
All consuming: Exploring New Zealand's food identity
In collaboration with a range of industry stakeholders, this ongoing research project examines New Zealand’s modern national identity through the creative interpretation of some of New Zealand’s leading chefs. It explores how the food stories of an increasingly diverse and multicultural New Zealand are being presented to its international guests and asks what ties the food back to the whenua and the many tāngata who call Aotearoa New Zealand home. It examines the roles that culture, societal issues and mythology play in the creative formation process of contemporary New Zealand cuisine and seeks to contribute to the ongoing discussion around modern New Zealand identity.
Harvest: The journal of AUT's Centre for Critical Food Studies
The centre is proud to host Harvest: The journal of AUT's Centre for Critical Food Studies. The journal is an open access interdisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing original research, analysis, and creative work that deepens our understanding of the complex and evolving world of food. We publish selected works from students from AUT's Master of Gastronomy programme, but also welcome contributions from scholars, practitioners, activists and writers whose work fosters dialogue across disciplines and communities.
Academic supervision and student research
Active supervision is fundamental to the Centre's core role of supporting academic and action-based research in the critical food space. Our members welcome enquiries from potential master's degree and PhD students interested in pursuing topics across the fields of culinary arts, gastronomy and wider food studies.
Healthy Auckland Together (HAT)document
We have been working with fellow members of HAT on a call for action document addressing three key food related issues affecting Auckland communities. This call for action document will be presented to candidates in Auckland's upcoming local elections asking for their support in activating positive change in our local food systems.