09/04/2025
Our beautiful article in this months newsletter 🥰
*An Article from this months Te Hiku Connect Newsletter*
From One Māmā to Another: The heart of Pēpi Packs 🩷👶
During the 2021 lockdown, a young māmā named Sora sat surrounded by piles of baby clothes, tiny socks, and soft blankets, gifted to her as she prepared to welcome her own pēpi. As she sorted through them, she realised she had more than she needed. At the same time, she noticed posts online—mums struggling, reaching out for the basics. That’s when an idea sparked.
What if she could take the excess and pass it on? Not just to one person, but to any māmā who needed it? She put together a few care packs with her own excess items—bundles of warmth, love, and essentials—and offered them for free via Facebook. Within a day, all packs she had offered had gone to new homes. Requests for support continued to pour in, and donations followed, and just like that, Pēpi Packs was born.
Sora took a brief hiatus when she temporarily relocated to Whangārei in 2022. Now back in Kaitāia, she has been running it for nearly a year—all while keeping up with her very energetic three-year-old. The best part? The kaupapa has grown into something bigger than she ever imagined. Each week, anywhere between 5 - 20 packs go out to whānau in need. The shed where she carefully sorts every tiny onesie and swaddle was generously donated by a local couple who believed in what she was doing. It’s a space filled not just with baby essentials, but with aroha, generosity, and the hope that no māmā should ever feel alone.
The packs themselves are simple, yet life-changing. Soft baby clothes, warm knitted booties, nappies, wipes, change mats, a small toy—each one a little bundle of care to help pēpi through their first year of life. But it’s not just about the items. It’s about what they represent. “The packs are also a reminder that someone, somewhere, has thought about you. That you and your baby matter. That there are kind people out there who see you, even if you feel unseen.”
The community has wrapped around Pēpi Packs in a way Sora never expected.
Mums donate their gently used or sometimes new baby gear, local midwives and social workers refer whānau in need, and local volunteers pitch in where they can, whether that’s to pack, sort or pick up items as far South as Whangārei. Kaitāia Whānau in Need, Bald Angels, Beanies for Babies and Busy Bees Kerikeri are just some of the many have been generous with donations, ensuring the packs never run empty.
When Sora reflects on the challenges she’s faced in this journey, she shares that “getting through my massive pile of donations is an awesome challenge”, but still a challenge nonetheless! But there are most limiting challenges, too. There’s no official funding, which means every pack relies on the kindness of strangers and 100% volunteered time from herself and others. Bigger essential items like prams and car seats are hard to source and often expensive for struggling mamas to purchase, “It would be a dream to be able to provide these items for our māmā in need too, but it’s really tough without funding or monetary donations.”
Still, the highlights always outweigh the struggles. Every time a message comes through from a grateful māmā, or her head hits the pillow after a busy day knowing a baby gets to wear something warm and comforting because of Pēpi Packs—it’s all worth it.
One of the many māmā who received a Pēpi Pack has shared that Sora’s kindness has been nothing short of heart-warming, “I felt embarrassed to reach out to Pēpi Packs but I’m so glad that I did as I was in need of some clothes for my baby due this month as I didn’t have or couldn’t afford much. They were happy to help and offered to make one for our baby boy! We are so grateful, it was packed so beautifully with love and care and all the things that baby needs. I highly recommend Pēpi Packs to ANYONE that needs baby things.”
Looking ahead, Sora’s dream is to do even more for the community of māmās and become a registered charity. Next on the list is launching a meal train service, supporting those tired families riding through the newborn trenches who need the nutrition and awhi to help get them through.
Her ultimate goal for Pēpi Packs though? “A future where Pēpi Packs ceases to exist, because every whānau already has the support they need. Because our community chooses kindness and generosity and helping your neighbours becomes the norm again. It’s ironic but it’s really what I hope for.”
Until then, the mahi continues; one pēpi, one pack, one act of aroha at a time. If you, or someone you know, would benefit from a Pēpi Pack or you want to offer support/donations, you can search ‘Pēpi Packs’ on Facebook or head to www.facebook.com/ForMumsInNeed
