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Welfare

Te Kai Mākona in Whangārei

A fresh, whānau-led approach to food support is transforming lives in Whangārei, where The Salvation Army’s Te Kai Mākona initiative is helping whānau move from crisis to confidence.

Te Kai Mākona is The Salvation Army’s food response designed to strengthen food security through holistic, mana-enhancing support. In Whangārei, the initiative goes far beyond food parcels, empowering whānau to choose their own kai, grow gardens, learn cooking skills, and connect through shared meals and community activities.

“Te Kai Mākona is a gateway. It’s grace. It’s light,” says Carl Worthington, Salvation Army Food Security team leader in Whangārei. “It’s the opportunity for us to really support people.”

A key feature of the programme is its social supermarket model, which allows whānau to select their own groceries every eight weeks, guided by kōrero with wellbeing workers. This approach enhances dignity, reduces waste and ensures tailored support. Alternatives like the pātaka kai and overnight packs ensure no one goes without.

An independent evaluation by TIRIA found that Te Kai Mākona in Whangārei delivers impact across five key outcome areas:

  • Seeds of Hope: Meeting immediate needs and removing barriers.
  • Strong Roots: Providing stability in housing, health and daily life.
  • Healthy Growth: Building skills, confidence and work readiness.
  • Harvest: Supporting whānau to give back through volunteering.
  • Shared Feast: Enabling personal growth, healing and belonging.

The initiative includes a six-week Oranga Kai course combining cooking, gardening and shared meals, as well as a weekly Community Meal following Recovery Church, often prepared by volunteers with lived experience.

Carl says, “Whānau are learning to cook food they’ve never cooked before. They’re learning how to preserve food. They’re understanding nutritional content. Some of them have never gardened before. They’re getting skills. They’re getting connection. It’s empowering.”

The programme is supported by strong partnerships with supermarkets, businesses, farms, schools and national food rescue programmes including: NZ Food Network, 155 Whakaora Kai Delta Produce, Cookie Time, Meet the Need, Woolworths, New World Regent, Gift Boutique, and Bidfood Whangārei… These collaborations ensure a steady supply of nutritious kai and strengthen community connections with a positive environmental impact for whenua while supporting whānau.

Delivered by a team with both professional expertise and lived experience, Te Kai Mākona is grounded in trust-based relationships, wraparound support and a welcoming, culturally safe environment.

As communities across Aotearoa seek sustainable ways to support whānau, Whangārei’s experience offers valuable lessons. The Salvation Army hopes Te Kai Mākona will continue to grow as a flexible, values-driven approach that puts people first.

“This is about more than food,” Carl adds. “It’s about restoring hope, building resilience, and walking alongside people as they shape a better future.”

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