People from across the motu rallied together in Hauraki last weekend to raise funds for a social supermarket in the area.
A “vibrant, diversity-inspired” fashion fundraiser held at the Thames Civic Centre on October 19 was a runway hit and buttoned up $10,000 for the Pātaka Kai social supermarket in Paeroa – who’s annual target was to raise at least $50,000 to cover its monthly operational costs of $12,000.
Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki (Hauraki Women’s Refuge) and Waste Management New Zealand, supported by HereforNZ, Te Kura o Te Kauaeranga and KMG Print, organised the event with a shared goal to support all diverse communities in Hauraki to ensure food reached those who needed it most.
Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki chief executive Denise Messiter said there was a really good cross section of the community who supported the kaupapa and had a fun night.
Four independent designers, Sandra Taipari, Hohepa Barlow, Julie Cvitanovich and Colleen Renata created thirty handmade garments which were showcased on the night. One of the collections by Sandra was sourced from recycled strapping and reflective paper, she said.
“I’ve called it ‘from trash to treasure’, because it was all heading for landfill.”
Meanwhile, Colleen said she’d gone “really hard out” for the past few weeks with her pieces made from harakeke (flax).
Another ‘white tie dinner’ fundraiser for the Pātaka Kai is set for November 19.
