He Puāwai Trust
He Kai Kei Aku Ringa
A whānau-led approach to community kai production.
About Our Mahi
He Puāwai Trust has a vision to build resilience in whenua, whānau, and hāpori through restoring and developing sustainable, local food systems.
We are based in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai (Lower Hutt) and Paetūmokai (Featherston) our mahi is all about shifting the dial from kai crisis to resilience. We do this by providing opportunities for education and development in kai skills across Te Awa Kairangi and Paetūmokai (Featherston), by shaping community kai hubs alongside partnering food banks and local organizations.
Currently we are focused on supporting kai resilience development in the following communities:
Lower Hutt Central , Paetūmokai, Stokes Valley, and Wainuiomata.
Our Current Mahi is about Growing Kai, Connection and Community Resilience
We support rural and urban communities to grow their own whānau-led solutions for kai resilience and wellbeing. We recognise that every community is unique — shaped by its people, place, culture and resources — so we don’t bring one fixed model. Instead, we walk alongside communities to listen, co-design and support locally grounded ideas to take root. Our role is to help seed, fund, develop and implement initiatives that reflect the aspirations of whānau, building skills, confidence and local leadership along the way. Over time, we step back, ensuring each initiative is community-owned, sustainable and able to stand on its own, strengthening a wider network of care across Aotearoa.
We are a charity trust and rely on donations and koha.
Every act of generosity, big or small, helps us to create kai security in our neighbourhoods.
