An East Coast Maori organic farmer is welcoming a $500,000 boost to a scheme that pays marae to install vegetable gardens.
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples says more funding will be given to the Mara Kai scheme, from the baseline budget of Te Puni Kokiri.
Waatea News reports more than 200 marae have received $2000 grants to buy tools and plants since October.
Rob Thompson says the idea is taking off and people are re-learning how to grow healthy kai for the home as well as the marae.
