Poutū-te-rangi / March Update
25 March 2026
Since our last update in December, things haven’t slowed down. We know many whānau across Whanganui continue to do it tough. This year, we’re focused on strengthening our systems, building sustainability, and rescuing even more kai! Your ongoing donations help us plan ahead. Thank you.
Alongside our core mahi, we’ve been opening up the hub to the community. We’ve hosted a film night, a sauerkraut workshop, and a beautiful Crop Swap. Some attendees said it helped them access more kai. Crop Swap is now a regular monthly event (second Saturday). We’d love to see you there. Poster attached, and the Facebook event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1888924215009922
We’ve also continued to put energy into securing funding, and we’re grateful to have received support from the Catalytic Foundation to help keep this mahi going.
Recent research from the New Zealand Food Network "Hunger Monitor report" looks at food insecurity in Aotearoa and is the most in-depth research so far. Key takeaways:
33% of NZ households experienced some form of food insecurity in the past year
30% of full-time workers report experiencing food insecurity
68% of food insecure households experienced it for the first time in the last 12 months
49% of people facing food insecurity avoid seeking support due to shame or embarrassment
This report is sobering but it highlights how important this work is and how vital your support is. Thank you for being part of this with us.
- Eryn Gribble, GM.
