SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Trust is expanding its impact across the region, with a growing focus on education, resilience and long-term wellbeing for whānau.
Trust Tairāwhiti approved $172k over two years to help the organisation strengthen its operational capacity and sustainability, helping fund the people and systems behind SuperGrans’ frontline services.
For more than 22 years, SuperGrans has provided financial mentoring, social work support, kai assistance and life skills programmes for whānau across Tairāwhiti.
“Our admin and operational staff are often the first point of contact for vulnerable whānau,” says SuperGrans strategic advisor, Sarah Elliot.
“They help create a calm, safe and welcoming environment while also managing partnerships, compliance, communications and the systems behind the scenes that keep everything running smoothly.”
Over the past year, the organisation has shifted from a crisis‑response foodbank model toward a more future‑focused approach centred on education, empowerment and long‑term wellbeing.
“The shift came after we identified that around 60 per cent of people accessing food support were returning regularly, highlighting deeper barriers affecting communities.
“We realised we needed to focus on long‑term solutions rather than short‑term responses. The goal was to help people build sustainable skills and confidence, while wrapping support around the wider challenges they were facing.”
The organisation introduced a new model combining food support with kai literacy workshops, budgeting advice, financial mentoring and navigator‑style support to help whānau access services and build independence.
Since introducing the approach, SuperGrans has seen a 20 per cent reduction in foodbank referrals.
“This new approach helps our kaimahi better understand the underlying causes of hardship affecting whānau,” says SuperGrans general manager Crystal Stankovich‑Te Ua.
“If someone is repeatedly needing food support, it gives us a chance to ask what’s actually going on. Often, people weren’t lacking motivation; they were blocked by systems. Helping someone navigate services or connect with the right support could completely change their situation.”
Last year, SuperGrans:
- supported 10,800 people with kai assistance
- distributed more than 75,000 kai parcels
- delivered 81 community workshops
- provided one‑on‑one support to 256 clients.
Collaboration remains central to SuperGrans’ approach, with the organisation focused on working alongside others to strengthen support for whānau across Tairāwhiti.
