An inspirational effort to teach Te Whānau-ā-Apanui locals how to get back to basics when looking after their whānau, community and environment is receiving a $20,000 boost.

The grant from BayTrust will help fund resources such as reusable nappies and composting bins.

The money will go towards operating costs for Para Kore Marae, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes zero-carbon and zero-waste practices within Māori communities by providing programmes, workshops, mentoring, and resources.

Long-time Te Kaha resident Te Ataarangi Parata works for Para Kore and is passionate about teaching others how to build healthy soil, grow their own kai, and use sustainable products.

She has been running three programmes throughout Te Whānau-ā-Apanui for the past two-and-a-half years – programmes which can now continue thanks to the BayTrust grant.

Ms Parata describes the $20,000 as a lifeline.

“For a little place, we matter. This money helps us to be sustainable for ourselves. If I teach my auntie, she’s going to teach her mokopuna. So BayTrust has not only given us the money, but they’ve given us the tools to teach each other. And that’s the most wonderful, beautiful gift in the world.”

The three programmes she runs on behalf of Para Kore are Mahi Wairākau (composting), Maara Kai (growing food) and Kope Tautāiao (reusable nappies).

The composting programme teaches whānau the basics of composting and soil building to help whānau start and maintain a compost system.

Maara Kai teaches people how to grow their own food but also to think about how much they actually need, and where their food comes from to foster sustainable living and community building. And the third programme teaches whānau about the benefits of reusable nappies to their whānau wellbeing. Para Kore then gifts kope tautāiao to whanau to get started.

“They can’t afford to buy them new. They’re very expensive and people here just can’t front up with that money. So, they would never ever have this opportunity to use these nappies if I wasn’t able to hand them out.”

BayTrust’s grant will help cover Ms Parata’s wages but also buy more reusable nappies and wipes, gardening tools, seedlings, worm farms and composting bins to give to families who want to embrace what they’ve learned.

Para Kore team leader Hollie Russell said recent cuts to government funding meant the organisation wasn’t certain it could afford to continue operating in places like Te Kaha. But thanks to BayTrust and Ōpōtiki District Council, Ms Parata’s work could carry on.

“Te Whānau-ā-Apanui were at this really amazing and critical moment so this grant will just help push things to the next level. Te Ataarangi’s work is having a really positive response from the community. Rather than just offering one or two community workshops, we can now afford to offer programmes that have ongoing support wrapped around them.”

BayTrust Community adviser Lotima Vaioleti said the programmes Para Kore was providing in the Eastern Bay met many of BayTrust’s strategic funding priorities.

“We are focused on helping people practise kaitiakitanga to protect and improve the natural environment for future generations, as well as supporting community wellbeing and tū Māori mai to empower whānau to create an abundant future for themselves.

“The programmes that Para Kore provides are having a positive impact in so many ways, and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve with this additional operational funding in place,” Ms Vaioleti said.