Whai Manaaki Kai
Whai Manaaki Kai continued to play an important role in supporting whānau and the wider community, while also working alongside other Visionwest services to respond to increasing need. Throughout the year, the service provided practical and compassionate support to people facing food insecurity, financial pressure, and the ongoing impacts of the cost of living. This work remained strongly focused on upholding dignity, creating meaningful connections, and ensuring whānau were met with care at each point of contact.
The Whai Manaaki Kai team with donations from Family 2 Family
A significant change during the year was the move to a booking system for Pātaka Kai in January. This shift helped the team move from a focus on quantity to a stronger focus on quality, creating more space for intentional support and deeper conversations. Rather than simply responding to demand as quickly as possible, the new approach enabled staff to better understand each whānau situation, identify where additional support may be needed, and connect people with the right services across Visionwest.
The move to a booking system prioritised quality of care.
The shift to bookings also created a more manageable rhythm for the service. It gave the team a clearer structure around how whānau were welcomed and supported, while still allowing space to respond when urgent needs came through the door. This helped reinforce the purpose of Whai Manaaki Kai as more than a food distribution service. The work continued to be relational, practical, and mana-enhancing, with kai often becoming an entry point for wider support, encouragement, and connection.
At the same time, the service continued to face considerable challenges. The most significant challenge was managing increasing demand while operating with the same staffing levels. Even with Pātaka bookings in place, rising petrol prices and the cost of living meant whānau were still coming through the doors needing emergency support, often while navigating complex and difficult circumstances. The team had to balance this ongoing demand with the need to provide careful, thoughtful, and respectful support.
The dedication shown by team members and team leads helped ensure whānau were welcomed well, listened to, and supported with extraordinary respect. Their contribution remained central to the impact of Whai Manaaki Kai and to Visionwest’s wider commitment to caring for the community.
