Dr Jessica Hutchings
(Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarati)
Dr Jessica Hutchings is nationally and internationally recognised as a leader and researcher in Indigenous food systems and Māori food and soil sovereignty.
She is a founding Trustee of the Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust that works to uplift Indigenous seed, soil and food sovereignty and Hua Parakore (Māori organics) through research, development and community practice.
Dr. Hutchings lives on 12 acres and is a Hua Parakore verified family food grower. She has been a member of Te Waka Kai Ora - the Māori Organics Authority for the last two decades.
She is also a widely published author, including recent books:
Pātaka Kai Growing Kai Sovereignty (Massey Univeristy Press, 2025)
Te Mahi Oneone Hua Parakore: A Māori Soil Sovereignty and Wellbeing Handbook (Freerange Press 2020),
Te Mahi Māra Hua Parakore: A Māori Food Sovereignty Handbook (Te Tākupu, 2015).
Dr. Hutchings has been working at the crossroads of Indigenous knowledge and environmental wellbeing for the last three decades and is passionate about Indigenous social justice, organic farming and self-determination. She was named as a finalist in 2023 for the New Zealander of the Year in the Environment category as well as being named one of New Zealand’s Top 50 Influential Women in Food and Drink.
For further information see: jessicahutchings.org.nz