Social supermarket opening soon in Paeroa
Project aimed at addressing food insecurity
Hauraki’s first social supermarket located in Paeroa is set to open next weekend and is a collaborative effort aimed at addressing food insecurity in the community while preserving the dignity of those in need.
The new store, which will be called Pa¯ taka Kai – Hauraki Social Supermarket, meaning storehouse or pantry in te reo Ma¯ ori, is a partnership between Hauraki women’s refuge Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯hine O Hauraki and Foodstuffs North Island. It is the ninth social supermarket supported by Foodstuffs.
Food and grocery products will be offered at low or no cost, using a points system, all within a standard supermarket environment, making healthy and affordable food accessible to the community.
Nadine Hamon from Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯ hine O Hauraki said they had been running Pa¯taka kai on the site in Puke Rd, Paeroa since 2021. Someone mentioned setting up a supermarket after taking inspiration from Dave “Buttabean” Letele who, in conjunction with Foodstuffs North Island, opened a social supermarket in Tokoroa in 2022.
“Denise Messiter [Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯hine O Hauraki general manager] said, ‘We need some sort of system into it and make it happen’, and now here we are.
“So we approached Foodstuffs, and [owner-operator] Matt Heap at Thames Pak’nsave is the chairman of the Emergency Support Fund [set up to help Kiwis access healthy, affordable food during lockdown], who was keen to help.
“They are our buddy store, and we are pretty lucky to have them, and Matt was really keen to get it rock and rolling,” said Hamon.
Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯hine O Hauraki receive a store credit with Pak’nsave Thames and they source the goods for distribution to customers, who for $20, receive 55 points for a single adult, or 75 points for a family, which is redeemed for assorted groceries.
“Some wha¯nau around here have six to eight kids, so we are doing extra large family amounts on a trial for two months.”
On average, 22 people per day came through the facility in its former incarnation.
Tania Weidenbohm, board of trustees member for Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯hine O Hauraki, said they “currently provide food support to over 150 families a week, so the idea behind partnering with Foodstuffs North Island to open a social supermarket is to give these families and our community an empowering experience”.
“We’re going to be offering a supermarket-style environment where people experiencing food insecurity will have the opportunity to choose items that meet their dietary, cultural, and personal preferences.”
Willa Hand, social supermarket lead for Foodstuffs North Island, said: “We know many families are doing it tough right now which is why we’re on a mission to open social supermarkets right across the North Island.
“We’re retailers, that’s our expertise whereas Te Wha¯ riki Manawa¯ hine O Hauraki are making a big impact on their community, that’s what they’re great at. Our teams fit out the space to create the store, provide the training and ongoing support as well as making a commitment to help keep the shelves stocked.
“Te Wha¯riki Manawa¯hine O Hauraki help design the social supermarket, so it caters for the needs of the local community and put in the mahi to provide an awesome service. It’s a real partnership,” Hand said.
Pa¯ taka Kai is scheduled to open its doors on Friday, December 15.