Shaping the future of food
We’re here to help you build sustainability and food resilience into the foundations of what you do.
We know that global change starts by thinking local. We help organisations throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and around the world, connect challenges at any part of their business to solutions that bring balance back into the way we produce, distribute and consume food.
Through education and training, you’ll discover how your organisation can meet commercial ambitions, while contributing to a system that better enables healthy people and a healthy planet.
Who we are
Meet Emily King
Advocate for food systems change
You’ll learn from an internationally recognised thought leader in food systems change.
Environmental lawyer turned advocate, Emily has more than a decade’s experience working in and researching food systems in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. Emily’s worked with dozens of organisations including municipalities, central government, community food groups, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations helping Pacific island nations with food projects. She’s trained hundreds of individuals through workshops and webinars on food systems change.
Emily created Spira in 2017 to help more businesses and organisations throughout Aotearoa contribute to positive fixes in the food system.
The world needs new thinking and inspired leaders when it comes to cultivating change in our food system.
Are you ready to champion the change?
We can help you. We have webinars, resources, courses, coaching and monthly live chats to help you better understand the food system. Through a deeper understanding of our food system we know you can make better and more informed decisions that lead to better outcomes for your organisation, business and our food system.
Our trainings cover:
Food system transformation
Food resilience
Community food
Food systems and Climate change
Discover how you can help shape a better way to do business, for a better world.
“Spira provided expert insights and advice into food waste in Aotearoa, as well as the broader function and components of the food system, assisting greatly with the completion of, and adding immeasurable richness, to our mahi.”
“Emily supported the Waiheke Resources Trust to deliver a strategic hui with key stakeholders to activate our Waiheke Local Climate Plan. Emily supported the development of the format, using both information gained from us but also her own skills in community development, climate and systems change. ”
a book by Emily King
Understand how food is grown and made and the issues facing our food systems, and discover the tools, insights and mindset changes that chart a path towards a healthier, more sustainable and more culturally appropriate food future.
In Re-food, author Emily King advocates for a food systems approach to Aotearoa New Zealand’s troubled food networks – one that takes into account the full paths and processes from the farm to the family table. It informs decisions about the best path forward to address the plural syndemics of food insecurity, malnutrition and obesity, environmental damage and cultural suitability.
Published 30 June 2023. Paperback or e-book, 336 pages by Mary Egan Publishing.
Re-food
Explore our free downloads
Where can you start to create change?
We’ve put together some helpful insights and advice to help tackle these common challenges.
Tailored coaching
Let’s collaborate
We work with food businesses and industry organisations wanting to lead the world with an authentic story of their food. Do you have a specific challenge and need help creating impactful change? We can offer tailored coaching for NGOs, health agencies, nutritionists, dieticians, councils, and community groups running projects that help people have access to sustainable and healthy food.
Speaking & events
Be inspired
Food connects us. It nourishes us. It’s a part of our heritage and shapes our cultures. Yet still, many of us are disconnected from the journey our food takes before it lands on our plates.
Spira founder, Emily, is a respected thought leader and speaker who contributes a voice for food system change, helping organisations and communities understand the impact food has on our environment - and the part we each have to play in cultivating change.
Emily is a skilled facilitator of dialogues and conversations on crunchy food system topics - get in touch to book her to speak at your event. She facilitates workshops, hosts panel discussions and webinars and is a professional speaker on the topic of food and systems change.
Spira Digest - our writing
From 12 November 2021 country of origin food labeling is mandatory in New Zealand on fruit, vegetables, meat and some fish. Find out what you need to do as a food business to be ready for this.