22 February 2024

Carra Hamon - Pou Rautaki for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Willa Hand - Social Supermarket Lead for Foodstuffs North Island, Steven Johnson - General Manager Social Services for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and Chris Quin - Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island.

Foodstuffs North Island, the 102-year-old, 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative of grocers behind PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Gilmours stores has partnered with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira to open Porirua’s first social supermarket.

Named Te Umu ki Rangituhi*, the social supermarket will provide access to essential groceries at low or no cost, utilising a points system within a conventional supermarket setting, ensuring accessibility to healthy and affordable food for the community. Whānau using Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira social services will be supported to access the supermarket and will be able to choose the groceries that best meet the needs of their whānau. The new store will be a safe space, without judgement and with a lot of support. 

Both the Rūnanga and Foodstuffs North Island recognise the challenges people face from time to time. The hope is that supporting people with positive opportunities will create a positive 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 each month.  Te Umu ki Rangituhi will provide an alternate option for whānau including wider wraparound social service support.

Chris Quin, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island said: “Many families are finding it tough and with the ongoing cost of living crisis, more and more people are struggling with a number of rising costs.  We’ve made a commitment to be Here for New Zealand and one of the best ways we’ve found to support New Zealanders who can’t participate in retail for a period of time, is to partner with local community organisations who’re having a meaningful, long-term impact on their communities.”

“Nearly three years ago, we partnered with the Wellington City Mission to setup New Zealand’s first social supermarket and it’s humbling that today we’ve opened number ten, while supporting 25,000 families along the way” – he added.

Helmut Modlik, Chief Executive of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira said: “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.”

“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” - he added.  

Foodstuffs North Island is the New Zealand owned co-operative behind the North Island’s PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Gilmour’s stores. Being 100% locally owned, the co-op has made a commitment to be 'Here for NZ' and has promised to help ensure all New Zealanders have access to healthy, affordable food and to support local communities to thrive.

Willa Hand, Social Supermarket Lead for Foodstuffs North Island said: “We’re a co-operative of local grocers so supermarkets and retail are what we’re good at. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira are in their community improving lives and making a difference, that’s their superpower.  As partners, our teams bring the expertise to create the store, we provide ongoing training and support and help keep the shelves stocked. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira make sure the store is right for their local community, that it caters to their needs and their mahi is what will provide an awesome service. We’re in it together.”

Foodstuffs North Island opened its first social supermarket in partnership with Wellington City Council in March 2021. The co-op has now partnered with community organisations to open social supermarkets right across the North Island, with Te Umu ki Rangituhi becoming number ten.

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 poverty and promoting overall wellbeing.

New World Tawa and Gilmours Wellington will act as buddy stores, under the guidance of local Owner Operators, Ashleigh & Scott Jackson and Matt Humphries, providing ongoing support and training to ensure the social supermarket’s success.

Te Umu ki Rangituhi is located on Raiha Street in Porirua.  To make an appointment to visit the social supermarket go to: Social Supermarket — Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira (ngatitoa.iwi.nz)

*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.