Communities Feeding Communities


The vision for Communities Feeding Communities was for Presbyterian Support Northern, Northern Presbytery, local Presbyterian churches and Saint Kentigern Girls & Boys Schools to work together with local communities to ensure access to affordable, nourishing food.

During Level 4 Lockdown last year, it was apparent that local communities had to rely on food parcels from agencies. This provided short-term relief for a couple of days but for many families this was the first time they had to ask for help. We realised that we need to create pathways that led to food security for these families.

After a meeting involving our Social Workers in Schools (SWiS), Rev Reuben Hardie from Saint Kentigern’s, Ivan Martinez from Somervell, Northern Presbytery and ourselves we came up with an empowering way for communities to access food with dignity and was more sustainable.

Through setting up Pataka Kai in local schools where we had SWiS, or outside churches, communities could access food donated by Saint Kentigern’s Boys & Girls Schools, local churches, community and businesses to feed themselves.

PSN & Northern Presbytery helped fund the project that meant that a koha would be available to the parents who kept the Pataka Kai well stocked and who were responsible for strengthening the relationship between the schools and churches.

The Communities Feeding Communities vision is more than just providing food for families, it’s about feeding them spiritually and ensuring relationships are valued and supported, putting into practice the Te Whare Tapu Wha model.


Up next

View all

Everyone Connected in 2025

Dr Prudence Stone is proud to represent Presbyterian Support upon the Energy Hardship alliance, which is a highly successful collaboration

Happy 140th Anniversary Presbyterian Support Northern

To commemorate how far we’ve come in this region, discuss the current issues we face and more, please have a

PSNZ | FWNZ Annual Report 2023-24

Click here to read our 2023-24 Annual Report At A Glance Enliven services At A Glance Family Works services For