Kai maa ngaa Whanau / Food for Families
A new social supermarket is opening this week in Kirikiriroa, Frankton.
Kirikiriroa’s Cupboard, Te Kaapata Kai aims to offer people living with food insecurity a more dignified way to do their food shopping.
Doors open Tuesday, August 18 and shoppers will be able to walk through aisles and choose the products that they desire. Instead of going to a food bank and collecting a pre-packaged bag or box,
Hera Taipu, the shop manager is busy filling shelves, getting the shop ready for opening day. Looking similar to a 4 Square, the store has an air of freshness and brightness with aisles full of goods, under neon light.
Shoppers book ahead for a 45-minute session with all products that you would find at a regular supermarket available, apart from alcohol and tobacco.
Payment is made for points with each visit, according to the size of their Whanau/Family. One person being charged around $20 through to a family of six or more being charged $50.
Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), are behind this Kaupapa/project. The trust started as an extension of the Kirikiriroa Marae in 1999 with Mariameno Kapa-Kingi being the first Chief Executive.
Jaye Wainui is the current Chief Executive at KFST, their mission is to strengthen the Māori community by; “Focusing on the children, Focusing on the Family/ Aronui ki nga Tamariki, Aronui ki te whānau.”
Wainui said,” we’ve known for a long time that food insecurity isn’t anything new. It’s been around for a long time. I think the new thing is it’s working people as well. The working families have really punched our numbers about another thirty seven percent.”
He has a strong connection to the Eastern side of the North Island and was raised by his grandparents in Gisborne, where he was brought up with the values of the Ringatu Church. A spiritual foundation that still strengthens him today.
A conversation with Waata Heathcoat from the Waiariki Whānau Mentoring Trust in Whakatane made Wainui curious, this led him to go to Whakatane and have a look at their social supermarket.
He also experienced an opening in Wellington, “there was one kid and I know it’s probably not the most nutritious, he went up onto the shelf and got a box of roll ups. To see how excited he was, just seeing that frontline stuff, what happens in the grassroots, it’s about as much inspiration as anybody needs.”
Hamilton City Council have provided the space at ‘a cheap rate’, with Foodstuffs North Island supplying products and various other organisations donating; through sponsorship, providing products and volunteering.
Foodstuffs and the bank gave KFST the go ahead in January/February this year, after going through a due diligence process that included the KFST board, the costs per year being estimated at $600,000.
Taipu is excited about opening day and told me to “take a look out the back” Walking through the back of the shop you see half a dozen or so raised gardens with flowers and vegetables growing in them. Eventually the shoppers will be able to access these fresh veges straight from the gardens.
This project has been created by the community, for the community and people are at the centre of everything- ngaa Taangata, ngaa Taangata(the people, the people).
