Under the Stars

We help the homeless and needy in Tauranga with kindness and compassion.

Every Saturday night at 5:00 pm and Thursday at 12:00 pm we provide a healthy, home cooked meal to over 60 of our people. We have never missed a Saturday dinner since we started in October 2014 or a Thursday lunch since that began in August 2019. There are always lots of smiles and grateful words. Meals are certainly an uplifting environment for all of us.

Many of our people have addictions and many are so mentally ill that they will likely never recover. However, we are always there for them twice a week, with a sense of community, love, compassion and kindness as they walk in the door.

Since we started renting the the building in 2016, we’ve been able to provide hot showers. We soon realised that much more than food was required. Socks were considered to be gold on the street, as were other essentials most people take for granted. Before long Under the Stars was supplying toiletries and many other essential items our people require. The building also allows our people to rest from the elements with a hot drink, even if only for a couple of hours.

Early on we learnt that many people did not have a birth certificate. Without documents you cannot open a bank account, get a job or receive support from WINZ. To get a birth certificate you need an address, which by definition rules out our homeless people. Under the Stars has been supporting our people through the process of getting documentation, by helping with applications, providing addresses, and advocating on their behalf.

We have seen many lives changed. We dream that Tauranga will be known not only for its beauty but also for its kindness and compassion to those in need.

Under the Stars is a charitable trust run by a collection of volunteers, and is funded entirely by donations from the public. Our registration number is CC53693.

Under the Stars began October 2014. We provide a free, home cooked meal every Thursday at noon and Saturday at 5pm, for our homeless and needy people in Tauranga.

We rent the building at 45 Cliff Rd from 10am on Thursdays and 3pm on Saturdays so our people can have a shower. When available, we give out clothes, toiletries, underwear, socks, tents, blankets, and take-away meals in containers to anyone who needs it.