"I love hearing the stories of miraculous kai abundance. The fish that run up the river into the nets for every tangi, the organic farm that remains lusciously green in the deepest drought, kumara tipu that are watered once upon planting and yield a harvest to last the year. I am pretty inspired by anyone who maintains a strong Mahinga kai practice as it is so easy to just go and get food from the shops. I am alway impressed by whānau who manage to prioritise the time needed for this way of life, I think it is a real achievement in these times."

Gretta Carney (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi) is the operator of Hapī Cafe & Maara Kai in Ahuriri Napier. Since graduating from Victoria University with a BA in Theatre and Film in 1997 Gretta has dedicated herself to kai and hauora. Her work includes co-director of Wellington based Organic Catering Company, researcher to OANZ (Organic Aotearoa New Zealand) and Project Manager to Te Waka Kai Ora overseeing the development of the Hua Parakore Organic Verification. Gretta holds a National Diploma in Biodynamic Organic Agriculture and maintains clinical practice as a qualified Classical Homeopath. She was a member of the Aotearoa delegation to the Terra Madre International Slow Food Meeting of Indigenous Food Producers in Italy 2008 and has attended IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) Conferences in Italy & India.
Recent awards include: Outstanding Cafe, HB Hospitality Awards 2018; Excellence in Sustainability, HB Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2021; Sustainability Star, Napier CBD Star Awards 2021; Outstanding Producer HB Hospitality Awards 2022.
www.hapi.nz ; Instagram: hapinz ; Facebook: @hapinapier