Hutt Santas

22/12/2025

So grateful to receive beautiful alfajores (dulche de leche shortbread biscuits) for the children in our secret santa from Mariana's Kitchen for the second year in a row!

22/12/2025

Tomorrow is the last day for present pick up. Pick up is at the secondhand clothes shop Whare Kakahu attached to the Patāka at 33 Wise Street, Wainuiomata.

20/12/2025

Thank you so much to all those who have donated presents and treats over the last few days. Our unassigned gift sack was empty but our hearts were full as we were able to go through the gifts with caregivers and let them choose special items that their children will love ❤️🌲✨

18/12/2025

Thank you for all your generous donations! The sack of extra gifts is now bare. This week, we have been so lucky to allow caregivers to choose wonderful gifts that their fit their children's interests. We would be so grateful if you could drop off extra gifts and treats to Forage Merchants of Wellington or Kokiri Marae Pātaka Kai (33 Wise Street, Wainuiomata).

18/12/2025

We are so grateful and delighted by the generosity and care of our Santas this year!
It has been lovely to meet a few of our Santas personally and to distribute gifts to caregivers. There may have been a few tears as Ann and I have been distributing gifts.
We were so lucky to get a huge amount of new books from a publisher for caregivers to choose from. We also had extra treats and snacks to provide a place of aroha and manaakitanga for whanāu receiving food parcels ❤️

11/12/2025

We did it! There are Santas' personally assigned to every single one of the children who had eligible nominations!

We love the personal touch and care that Santas choosing presents for specific children brings. We also are very aware that the need is much bigger than we can accommodate. That is why our preference was that each child gets their own Santa and that the pool of unassigned gifts can be set up for caregivers receiving food parcels who weren't able to sign up their children to choose an item for each child (until the supply of gifts runs out). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who has donated or contributed. You have made a huge difference for not only the children and their families but our community as a whole!

One week to go until the drop off deadline of December 19th for Santas with assigned gifts. For drop off of food or unassigned gifts, the deadline is December 23.

11/12/2025

Please consider supporting the amazing small businesses, like Clive's Chemist, "The Happy Chemist" that support our community to create a circular economy https://www.huttcommunity.co.nz/shop-for-good .l1loameuwicm

Kokiri Marae Pātaka Kai benefits from so many donations however obe of our biggest supporters is Clive at Clive's Chemist. Clive not only does food drives and collects donations in his store for us but he also makes regular donations from his own pocket. Today Clive arrived at the Pataka Kai with a big box loaded up with kai for us to add to our kai boxes. But Clive doesn't stop there, he took time out to specially tell us about the kind words his patrons have to say about the mahi we do for the community. This kind of deed fills one's hearts at a time when we are all under the pressure of providing whanau over the Christmas- New Year season. Nga mihi nui Clive. May you and yr loved ones have a safe and beautiful Christmas

09/12/2025

Thank you to Gentle Dental Lower Hutt for donating toothbrushes and toothpaste! Dental hygiene is so important, especially for our children. They gave me great advice too.

09/12/2025

Thank you so much to Shott Beverages who donated enough Quarterpast Real Lemonade to make over 400 litres!

We will be serving this with light refreshments and activities for kids as whanau pick up the Christmas presents! Extras will go out in food parcels.

09/12/2025

Thank you to our Santas and donors that help children who wouldn't otherwise get presents!

05/12/2025

We need more Santas to buy personalised gifts for children facing hardship. Can you help?
👆🏽Sign up here👆🏽https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Ia9OdWVjiUyLCY-E3uA-wA4rZhg8VnZHj_ix61VIHmNUNlU4QklHWEdUV1haRVEySEtMQlIzMjg1OS4u&route=shorturl

👆🏽More information about the project and processes at www.huttcommunity.co.nz

05/12/2025

Very excited to get a Candy Cutique Cotton Candy advent calendar! Beautiful and locally made with natural flavours. I thought it would be a great treat for children as their families pick up food parcels this Christmas. Thank you for including some extras for the children ❤️🎅🏽✨