PĀNUI
NEWS
Ngā Tāngata: Beyond The Pātaka.
16/02/2026
For Hamish, the support has made a real difference.
Living with Parkinson’s disease means he’s no longer able to work. With his wife as the sole income earner, raising kids and managing everyday expenses has become more challenging, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
“It’s great,” Hamish says of the weekly food support. “I can’t work, so we are a single income household. Every little bit helps.”
He has been receiving food relief for a while now. it began with a relationship. He first connected with He Waka Tapu through Gary, someone he previously knew and trusted.
That trust made it easier to reach out, and it has remained central ever since.
Each week, Gary drops the kai directly to Hamish’s home, helping remove barriers around transport and energy, and ensuring the support is both dependable, and dignified.
Over time, those deliveries have suprassed that of a practical service, they have become a familiar face at the door, a check-in, a reminder that support is there.
Asking for help wasn’t easy.
“At first i didnt like it,” he admits. “It’s hard when you go from working to not working. But there’s no harm in asking for help”
His honesty reflects a tension many whānau experience: pride versus necessity, independence versus vulnerability.
For Hamish, reaching out has eased some of the weekly pressure and reminded him that support is there when it’s needed.
"The cost of living for the average New Zealand household increased 2.2 percent in the 12 months to the December 2025 quarter, according to first quarter figures released by Stats NZ in 2026"
Rawiri’s story sits alongside his.
Each week, Rawiri collects a food parcel and brings a koha in return, often silverbeet or produce gathered from the wild with the help of his moko and godson.
After years of managing long‑term health conditions, he hasn’t been able to spend as much time in the ngahere as he once did, but contributing in whatever way he can remains important to him.
“I referred into He Waka Tapu many moons ago,” Rawiri says. “After the manaaki they've shown me, it felt only right to return the favour in any way that I can. Just as I was provided for, I’ll do my best to provide for others.”
Bringing a koha is never expected. For Rawiri, it is simply a way of honouring reciprocity and acknowledging the care he has received.
Together, their stories reflect something simple but powerful: food support is not so much about charity as it is about community and upholding mana. And it is about showing up for one another when times are tough.
“Our food parcel programme recorded 944 collections in 2025, with monthly averages showing a steady rise in demand as households across the community increasingly relied on support throughout the year.”
Each week at He Waka Tapu, kaimahi come together to prepare kai parcels for whānau connected with our services.
The process is steady and organised, with staff working side by side to sort, pack, and set aside kai that will make a real difference in the days ahead.
Kaimahi who work closely with whānau help identify who might need support and when it will help most. Once parcels are ready, they’re either collected onsite or delivered directly by staff who already have strong relationships with the people receiving them. This keeps access simple and ensures support reaches the right households without unnecessary hurdles.
The consistency of the service matters too knowing the kai will arrive, and knowing the person delivering it genuinely cares. Each parcel carries the message that whānau are supported, valued, and not navigating things alone.
In the coming weeks, as we continue to explore the cost‑of‑living crisis and what it means for our community, we’ll also turn our attention to our relationship with Kairos Food Rescue and the difference it’s making.
"Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi" - With my basket, and your basket the people will thrive.
