Te Umu ki Rangituhi - Social Supermarket
Foodstuffs North Island and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira are proud to announce a partnership that will see the two organisations open Porirua’s first social supermarket named Te Umu ki Rangituhi.
Te Umu ki Rangituhi will provide access to essential groceries. Whānau who access Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira social services will be supported to access the supermarket, and be able to select the groceries that best meet the needs of them and their whānau. It is a safe space, without judgement and a lot of support. Both the Rūnanga and Foodstuffs recognize the challenges that people face from time to time. The hope is that by supporting them with positive opportunities will have a positive flow on effect.
The Rūnanga has been operating a Pātaka Kai providing food parcels to families in need for many years. The team currently supports up to 160 whānau with emergency food provisions a month. Te Umu ki Rangituhi provides an alternate option for whānau including wider wrap around social service support.
Naomi Siania, Pātaka Kai Manager for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira said, “Te Umu ki Rangituhi aims to create an environment and safe space to support whānau needing access to kai. This supermarket is part of a wider vision the Rūnanga has to address issues such as food poverty.”
Helmut Modlik, Chief Executive, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira says, “Ngāti Toa is about creating solutions to support our hapori. We’re excited to launch an initiative with a partner organisation who sees the vision, shares our values, and enables opportunities to support community wellbeing and equity. We know it’s been a financially difficult time for whānau, and where we are able to lean-in and provide support we will. We want a city that’s thriving and a great place to live. To do this we need to make sure that everyone in our city has access to basic necessities and that includes access to kai”
Willa Hand explains: We’re retailers, that’s our expertise and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira are making a positive difference in their community, that’s what they’re great at. Our teams fit out the space to create the store, provide the training and ongoing support as-well-as making a commitment to help keep the shelves stocked. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira help design the social supermarket, so it fits the local community and they put in the mahi to provide an awesome service. It’s a real partnership.”
Foodstuffs North Island opened its first social supermarket in partnership with the Wellington City Mission back in March 2021. The co-op has since partnered with community organisations to open a further eight social supermarkets across the North Island, with Te Umu ki Rangituhi set to become number 10.
In addition to providing food support, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira also offer wraparound services to help people access additional support. Services such as housing, employment, training, social services and mental health, helping address the underlying causes of food proverty and promoting overall wellbeing.
PAK'nSAVE Porirua, New World Tawa and Gilmours Wellington will act as buddy stores, under the guidance of local Owner Operators, Garrod Brader, Scott Jackson and Matt Humphries, providing ongoing support and training to ensure the social supermarket’s success.
The new store named, Te Umu ki Rangituhi is given in commemoration of our Ngāti Toa people who have worked as ringawera and supported our tikanga of ahi kaa and manaakitanga. Te Umu ki Rangituhi also acknowledges others in our rohe who have contributed to the hauora and manaakitanga of our people
Te Umu ki Rangituhi is scheduled to open its doors on Thursday, 22 February 2024.