PĀNUI
NEWS
Hāngi for Hauora Recap!
12 / 08 / 2025
During June/July this year, we ran our Hāngī for Hauora fundraiser out of the Te Herenga space right here at He Waka Tapu, mobilising our Kaimahi and kai cooker to put out over 300 meals for the community.
"Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou ka ora ai te iwi"
This kaupapa was set up to raise funds for our low-cost GP clinic but much more than that, it was about coming together, paying it forward and showing what we can do when we mobilise.
Every plate was prepped, packed and served by our own kaimahi & tangata whaiora, from chopping veges, preparing the stuffing to steaming hāngī and handing it out with a smile.
It was a solid team effort, and the aroha was felt via the community response. We had whānau coming back all 3 rounds, some regulars, some new faces, and the feedback we got was nothing but positive.
People weren’t just picking up kai, they were connecting. That’s something we don’t take for granted. Simple things like a warm feed and a kōrero can go a long way in making people feel seen and supported, sharing information on immunisation services and our GP clinic were key points for kōrero, with some of our kaimahi having the chance to talk about what they do as well gave some insight into our day to day presence in the community.
One of the standout features of this fundraiser was the introduction of a Pay It Forward ticket, which gave whānau the opportunity to purchase a hāngi for someone in our community who might otherwise go without. This simple yet powerful initiative not only encouraged generosity, but also strengthened connections between those giving and those receiving. Thanks to the support of our community, we were able to provide hāngi meals to the Christchurch City Mission Men’s and Women’s Night Shelter, as well as the Spinal Unit at Burwood Hospital, ensuring that the warmth of this kaupapa reached far beyond our immediate circles.
A huge thank you to everyone who got involved, from preparing the packs, to managing the tickets, to purchasing the kai, every single person who contributed played a vital role in supporting this kaupapa. It simply couldn’t have happened without the dedicated crew behind it.
We’re already exploring ways to bring it back on an even bigger scale. In the meantime, our focus is shifting to the next kaupapa, so keep an eye on our socials for more information coming very soon.
Ngā mihi kia koutou to everyone who backed Hāngī for Hauora, your support means the world to us.
Mauri kai, mauri ora!
