Vector Group Charitable Trust
Youth and community led in Te Puke — building belonging, kai resilience, and creative connection across the Bay of Plenty.
Bay of Plenty
Vector Group Charitable Trust is a registered charity (CC45966) based in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. Since 2011 we have been building belonging — for young people, whānau, and the wider community.
We are youth-led and community co-created. Young people do not just receive our programmes; they help shape them.
We started with a simple question: why do some young people in Te Puke feel disconnected? The answer was belonging — the need to feel connected, valued, and part of something larger. That insight still drives everything we do.
Mō te oranga o ngā taiohi me ngā kaitiaki e mahi ana mō rātou.
For the wellbeing of taiohi and the people who support them.
WHAT WE DO
We operate across five registered charitable programmes:
1. Youth Development and Engagement — mentoring, skills, creative pathways, and positive relationships
2. Community Activities and Engagement — events and collaborative initiatives across Te Puke
3. Information Sharing — digital and local channels that connect people with opportunities and each other
4. Supporting Shared-Identity Communities — practical support for cultural, faith, and interest groups
5. Creative Projects that Enable Self-Expression — film, media, dance, music, and storytelling
Kai resilience runs through much of this work — food, growing, and sharing as ways communities build trust and care for one another.
OUR PROJECTS
• Troppo — tropical urban food forest in Te Puke (troppo.nz)
• Grow Te Puke — connecting local growers (growtepuke.com)
• Crop Swap Te Puke — regular community produce exchange
• Food Forest Tours — schools, visitors, and community
• Plant gifting — 11,000+ food-forest and vegetable plants gifted to community growers
WHY YOUR DONATION MATTERS
Community funding helps keep youth programmes running, kai resilience work on the ground, and community infrastructure connected across Te Puke. Donations of $5 or more are eligible for a New Zealand charitable giving tax credit.
CONTACT
Website: vectorgroup.org.nz
Facebook: facebook.com/VectorGroupNZ
Email: stephen.fawcett@vectorgroup.org.nz
Phone: 0274 144 280
Thank you for supporting belonging in Te Puke. When people belong, communities thrive.
More about us
Registered charity CC45966. Since 2011, Vector Group has built belonging in Te Puke through youth-led programmes, kai resilience (Troppo, Crop Swap, Grow Te Puke), creative projects, and community connection across the Bay of Plenty.
Use of funds
Funds will be raised for operational costs and specific projects aimed at community and youth engagement.
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