Look what two bucks has bought
Pak’nSave has taken its $2 deals to a whole new level — providing a community centre for Kaitaia’s youth for a single gold coin.
The site of the former Pak‘nSave supermarket in Kaitaia’s main street is to become a work and meeting space for local youth, for a $2 investment by the newly formed Kaitaia Youth Centre.
Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin said the company believed that the future lay in supporting Kiwi youth, so it had granted a 50-year lease on the land and sold the building to the Kaitaia Youth Centre for the “SAVEyest” possible deal of $2.
“Stickman proud!” he said.
A “fantastic” youth-led social enterprise was now set to help young people in Kaitaia realise their dreams, enabling them to meet, share their ideas for their future and put them into action, in large part due to Pak’nSave’s parent company, the Foodstuffs North Island Cooperative.
The youth centre project had been spearheaded by Andy Cuckney, a local and international consultant who had made the Far North his home.
“There is so much potential up here — our youth just need some focus and direction,” Mr Cuckney said.
“Having a place to call their own, that they can invest in and develop to suit their needs, is critical. We’re fully embracing the social enterprise concept, where
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super anything that we do here to raise money from hard work will be reinvested back into the centre and our projects.
“We are off to a flying start thanks to Foodstuffs. Their generous amazing.”
“When we opened a larger Pak‘nSave on North Rd back in 2011 to serve the community better, the original store was surplus to requirements,” Mr Quin added.
“It did hold a special place in our hearts as the first ever Pak‘nSave to open in New Zealand back in 1985, and we wanted to do something extraordinary to acknowledge the support Kaitaia has given us from the get-go.”
The project has the full support of mayor John Carter.
“Like the rest of Kaitaia, I am very encouraged by plans to give the former Pak‘nSave building a new lease on life, and look forward to seeing this longvacant building transformed into a focal point for positive change for our young people,” he said.
“I am sure that Kaitaia youth and the community will also be supportive of the objectives and plans being presented by the Social Enterprise Group leading this project.”
The ‘Foodies’ team couldn’t wait to see how the work unfolded.
“We’ve framed a $2 coin to hang on the wall for the moment the team has made it their own,” Mr Quin added.
“Opening day can’t come soon enough, and our team at the ‘new’ Pak‘nSave will be happy to help celebrate what we know is a wonderful solution to benefit the community for years to come.”
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