Yinhua “Sunny” Li

Originally from China, Sunny has called Aotearoa home since 2016. Her journey began with curiosity and a working holiday visa—and grew into a life rooted in connection, community, and cultivation. After several years in hospitality, Sunny found herself living at the Tui Community in Wainui Bay, where she immersed herself in permaculture and communal living—an experience that planted the seeds of her passion for sustainable growing and community connection.

Since 2021, Sunny has worked as a farm assistant at Gibbston Microgreens while continuing to deepen her growing knowledge. That same year, she joined a brainstorm hosted by The Kiwi Kit Community Trust (now Lakes Multicultural Collective), and her quiet but steady presence has been felt ever since.

As our Garden Manager, Sunny brings care, consistency, and a gentle leadership to our Community Garden Project. Whether tending to the soil or welcoming newcomers to the garden, she’s helping build something beautiful—one seed, one story, and one connection at a time.