Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai Formerly Kawerau Whakaora. Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai is a community driven free Kai store powered by donations, weaving our people through koha.

A welcoming space for whānau to access kai, share resources and strengthen connections. Kawerau Tūhonohono

Tūhonohono Kai


Emphasizing the connection between the food and the people.

01/10/2026

Kia ora whānau! The kai shop will be open today

​Opening Times:

​10:00 AM: Kaumātua (60+)
​10:30 AM: General public

​Please remember to bring a bag or two. We look forward to seeing you all then!

Nga Mihi
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

28/09/2026

✨ Advocating for Our Whānau & Community ✨

​We were deeply honoured to be invited by Louisa and the wonderful team at Feeding Rotorua to sit down and meet with the CEO of NZ Food Network North.

​This meeting was a truly blessed space to be in. It gave Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai a vital platform to speak directly about the real, daily struggles facing families here in Kawerau and our surrounding communities. We were able to lay it all on the table and share just how tough things currently are for our whānau when it comes to put food on the table.

​Most importantly, he didn't just hear us—he truly listened.

​We want to send a massive ngā mihi to Louisa and the team at Feeding Rotorua, as well as the NZ Food Network North leadership, for taking the time to listen, care, and understand our reality. We hope this kaupapa helps shift the lens at that higher level so our rural and local communities get the support they genuinely need.

​Ngā mihi nui for standing with us and backing our whānau! ❤️ Whānau first, always.
​

18/09/2026

Kia ora Kawerau whānau! 🧺✨

​Our kai shop was open today! We had 58 whānau come through our doors, which means kai will be reaching another 276 people in their whare.

​We are officially closed now for the day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by—we look forward to seeing and supporting our whānau again in 2 weeks’ time!

​Ngā mihi,
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

17/09/2026

Kia ora whānau! The kai shop will be open tomorrow.

​Opening Times:

​10:00 AM: Kaumātua (60+)
​10:30 AM: General public

​Please remember to bring a bag or two. We look forward to seeing you all then!

Nga Mihi
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

09/09/2026

Kia ora whānau,

​A heartfelt update from us: last Friday, we had 61 people come through our door they will go on to help feed 267 people in there whare.

​We are deeply grateful to our amazing sponsors, Feeding Rotorua, the KEA Center, and our wonderful volunteers who keep this kaupapa alive. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

​Shop Hours Update:

We will post our opening hours next Thursday. Please keep in mind that our hours may vary depending on the food supply we have available—we always want to make sure there’s enough to go around for everyone who needs it.

​Nga mihi nui for your ongoing support!

Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

03/09/2026

Community Update: Keeping Our Kai Safe & Fresh

​Kia ora Whānau,

​We want to send a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who continuously supports our initiative—whether you're dropping off fresh produce, volunteering your time, or sharing in the kai we distribute.

​For the past 4 years, our team has been dedicated to rescuing food and supporting our community. We work hard every single day to stay on top of logistics and ensure the kai reaching your homes is fresh, safe, and wholesome.

​Because we handle such large volumes of rescued food, things move quickly. Even though we inspect items as thoroughly as possible during sorting, occasionally a piece of produce that is past its prime can slip through into a box.

​If you ever receive food that isn't up to standard—like mouldy or spoiled items—please know how deeply sorry we are. We truly appreciate it when you gently give us a heads-up. It helps us double-check our supply, fine-tune our sorting, and keep our standards high for everyone.

​Thank you all for your ongoing patience, grace, and love over these last 4 years as we work together to nourish our whānau. If you ever notice an issue, please feel free to send us a quick message anytime!

​With gratitude,
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

03/09/2026

Kia ora whānau,

​Reminder that our Kai Shop will be open tomorrow!

​10:00 AM: Kaumātua (60+)
​10:30 AM: General Public

​Please remember to bring your own bags.

​We look forward to catching up with you all!

​Ngā mihi,
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

28/08/2026

Kia ora whānau,

​We know that with our kai shop being closed this week, some of you have been left upset and disappointed. We hear you, and we want to share what’s happening behind the scenes so you know where our heart is.

​Closing was never a choice we wanted to make. With a drop in supplies from food rescue networks, we simply didn't have enough on our shelves for the number of whānau we serve each fortnight. Rather than having people leave empty-handed or with just a single loaf of bread or a bottle of milk, we made the hard call to hold off so we can ensure everyone is properly supported next week.

​For the past four years, we’ve funded this directly out of our own pockets—not through grants, but out of love for our community. Every Thursday, we drive out to Rotorua (and sometimes Waimana) to source and collect this kai ourselves, as none of it currently comes from local Kawerau sources. We are forever grateful to the KEA Centre for standing by us and supporting us through the years. When our doors are closed, please know it is only because we have no other option.

​On a serious note, we have also been informed that someone entered the kai shop while the electrician was inside trying to fix the lighting in the building. This is very disappointing behaviour. Taking items while the shop is closed is considered theft. If this was you, please be aware that once we gather more information, a trespass notice will be issued.

​We love our community and we are doing everything we can to keep this going. We look forward to seeing you all next week with full shelves for everyone.

​Ngā mihi nui for your patience, understanding, and ongoing support. ❤️

Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

27/08/2026

Kia ora whanau,

Community Update: Kai Shop Status & Reminders
​Whānau, we want to gently remind everyone that whenever the kai shop closes unexpectedly or early, it is always for a good reason—whether it’s restocking, urgent community support, operational maintenance, or family commitments.

​To help keep everyone in the loop, please keep the following in mind:

​Physical Notes on the Door: For those who don't follow this page, we always post a physical note on the shop door explaining any closure. If that note gets removed or goes missing later, that is unfortunately out of our hands.

​Spread the Word: If you follow our social media page and notice we're closed, please take a moment to inform your whānau and friends who might not be online so they don't make an unnecessary trip.

​We truly appreciate your understanding, ongoing patience, and support as we work to keep our community fed and cared for!

27/08/2026

Notice: Closed This Week

​Kia ora Whānau,

​Due to unforeseen circumstances, our doors will be closed this week friday. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to you and your whanau, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding.

​Thank you for your ongoing love and support for our shop. We are taking this time to reset and take care of things behind the scenes, and we now look forward to welcoming you all back next week on friday with warm smiles.

​Arohanui,
Kawerau Tūhonohono Kai

Address

Back Of KEA Center
Kawerau
3127

Opening Hours

2pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+64220579820

Website

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