Kai Ora Collective (previously Wellington Region Fruit & Vege Co-ops) today unveiled a billboard in Taranaki Street promoting community power over supermarket power when it comes to combatting rising household costs caused by the fuel crisis.

The billboard, which was “opened” by Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul on Thursday morning, has been put up to officially launch Kai Ora Collective under its new name. The Collective has also released a video promoting its work.

The Collective, which has been running since 2014, provides fresh, affordable, local produce to communities in the greater Wellington region (including the Wairarapa) every week. It’s run as a partnership between Wesley Community Action and Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora.

Every week volunteers help pack fruit and vegetables at 10 packing hubs (or co-ops) and deliver them to 39 pick-up locations.

Members pay $15 for a weekly fruit and vegetable pack.

“The Collective is all about the power of community,” says Makerita Makapelu, Wesley Community Action’s Innovation Team Leader. “It’s made possible by many wonderful volunteers giving their time generously to support their community.”

She says the produce is always cheaper than the supermarket. A price comparison of last week’s $15 pack found that the same produce would have cost $24 at a supermarket.

“With rising fuel prices eating into people’s household budgets and driving costs up that makes fresh produce more affordable for whānau doing it tough.”

A recently introduced online ordering system at two of Collective’s 10 hubs is proving very popular. It means people can select their own produce and it’s been so successful that the Collective has had to put a temporarily cap on online orders until it can find a way to accommodate the growing demand.

“If anyone wants to set up a new packing hub so we can increase our online orders we’d love to hear from them!”

In the meantime, it’s business as usual for all the other packing hubs where $15 packs are available for anyone who wants them.

She says the Collective is about more than just saving money. It’s also about building a sense of community and developing a local food system that supports whenua, growers, and whānau.

“At Wesley Community Action we believe that real change happens when it is led by the people wanting change. We’re committed to moving away from traditional charity model of “doing to” people to supporting people “to do” – rangatiratanga in action.

“Kai Ora Collective is a great way for communities to support each other and take action to make life better.”

© Scoop Media