The Festival of Soil - January Newsletter 2026
Kia Ora,
This February, The Underground Festival returns to Greystone’s regenerative vineyards in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, offering a living space over 2-3 days where kai and farming meet underground intelligence, whakapapa, and new imagination.
The festival welcomes a diverse community - from large-scale farmers & market gardeners, to home growers, soil lovers, mātauranga Māori practitioners, winegrowers, beekeepers, chefs, educators, entrepreneurs, and curious minds exploring the fertile edges where kai, farming, and regeneration converge.
Hosting a range of hands-on workshops, thought-provoking panels, farm walks, and inspiring keynote speakers - the collective dares to ask the big questions - like what do our future food systems and soils really need?
From quantum agriculture to the sounds of hineahuone; from Maramataka gardening to regenerative vineyard walks - the themes covered at Underground are as diverse as a thriving food forest.
Underpinning all of the spaces is a weaving together of community in a shared celebration and protection of the soil - our shared taonga.
A reverence for the underground network if life, the mauri, the web of connections, that in fact sustains all life on earth.
The thriving diversity below the surface of our world reminds us that diversity is not just an ecological principle - it is a way of being. A way of farming, sharing kai, and relating to one another that echoes back from ancestors to future generations - expressing the interconnection between all things.
Biome Trust and Mangaroa Farms are proud to support the Underground Festival this February 17-19 - which you can learn more about here.
Please enjoy the collection below of highlights from last year’s gathering, followed by the latest updates from our local ecosystem.
Season’s blessings.
- Biome Trust
The festival zone features various kai options, live music, & market stalls.
Underground is set in the rolling hills of Greystone Winery, Waipara - 1 hour north of Ōtautahi / Christchurch.
Te Rangikaheke Kiripatea from Kai Rotorua speaking with Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils (right) at Underground 2025.
Zebulon Horrell of Future Whenua & Mangaroa Farms on a farm tour of the local area.
Mangaroa Farms are proud to support the Mangaroa Soil Tent where high quality conversations and gatherings take place.
Sunflowers are in full bloom - a symbol of soil awareness and the regenerative farming movement.
Josh Hunter and Max Gordy - two of Aotearoa’s most exciting young chefs and Eat New Zealand Kaitaki - are doing a one-off collaboration for the kai at Underground Festival.
Nicole Masters highly attended hands-on workshop, in a deep cross-section of soil.
Full festival program was recently released. View the lineup here
Giftee Updates
Kiwis in Climate Voices for Climate Solutions brings together bold and practical visions in a new book from leading scientists, politicians, CEOs & citizens. More
Papawhakaritorito Trust makes it easy to submit your thoughts about the Gene Technology Bill to your local MP. More
Earth School Aotearoa at Mangaroa Farms offers nature-based learning with weekly one-day programs & immersive worldschooling stays. More
Kōanga Institute is now accepting internship applications for 2026 in the garden, butchery, design & marketing. More
Kelmarna Community Farm is hosting an unforgettable farm to table pop-up dining experience in mid-February. More
Mangaroa Farms is hosting the Autumn Harvest Festival to celebrate Upper Hutt Food Week, 21-29 March 2026. More
Learning Environment is hosting Te Pātaka Rangatahi Leadership Climate Camp - a 4-day camp in Whanganui, March 12–15, 2026. More
Permaculture in New Zealand is hosting the Aotearoa National Permaculture Hui April 10-13 in Whakatu Nelson. More
Tiwaiwaka’s Pā McGowan shares some of the devastating flood damage that has occurred in the Tauranga Moana region. More
Tū Wairua is stewarding the integration of rongoā Māori with psychedelic assisted therapy at Rangiwaho Marae, Gisborne. More
Kaicycle Urban Farm is hosting an introductory workshop on seed saving on Saturday 7th March from 1:30-3pm. More
Garden To Table are creating the opportunity to empower a child to grow, harvest, prepare and share kai for 1 year. More
Local Futures Founder / Director Helena Norberg-Hodge celebrated her 80th birthday, and 50 years at the forefront of the localization movement. More
One Earth is working towards the three pillars of energy transition, nature conservation, and regenerative agriculture. More
Future Whenua is hosting the annual summit at Pākōwhai Marae Te Tairāwhiti / Gisborne on 13-15th March 2026. More
Known as Te Kāhui Tupua, the Taranaki Maunga has been granted legal personhood, now recognized as an indivisible, living entity with legal rights.
Additional News
Taranaki Mounga (above) is an ambitious restoration project transforming the mountain, ranges and islands of Taranaki. More
Farmer’s Footprint have created a Glyphosate Resource Guide to go alongside the Invisible Ingredient Podcast series. More
Plant Baby Plant by Robin Wall-Kimmerer, encourages people to Raise a Garden, and Raise a Ruckus to protect watersheds, preserve seeds, and re-wild local places. More
Predator Free NZ highlights the surprising rate of possums, ferrets and feral cats that appear on a trail camera in Queenstown. More
“Seeds are not just the source of life for plants; they are also the carriers of cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. A way to connect to our ancestors - both plants and people.”
