A group of elderly are finding their feet again in the kitchen.
Orakei Marae has been home base for one of the Let's Cook cooking programmes, an eight-week cooking class specifically for seniors or kaumatua.
Programme coordinator Glenda Webb from Nutrition Foundation said, the group has been learning all things kai-related, what certain foods are, how to prepare them and lastly how to cook them.
The average age of the class is 70 years old. The oldest is June Phillips, who is 84. June has dementia, but that doesn't stop her coming along to class each week with the assistance of her son Steve.
He says his mother enjoys her time with the group.
"She enjoys the company of the people, she knows that we're cooking and she can complete easy tasks like stirring and mixing."
Nutrition Foundation decided to base these programmes at marae to encourage more Māori to join in.
Glenda says her goal is to keep this small group of kaumatua out of the hospital.
This master class has not only given these seniors the tools to cook for themselves, but also an opportunity to socialise and build lasting friendships.
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