With the cost of putting food on the table continuing to put pressure on household budgets, a community organisation working at the coalface of the issue has opened a new food hub in Ōpōtiki.

Have a Heart Food Hub – Whare Kai opened its doors at 104 Church Street yesterday, bringing the charitable organisation’s low-cost groceries and essential items to local whānau.

Have a Heart Food Hub manager Charlie Maru says the organisation had been keen to establish a presence in Ōpōtiki after identifying the town as an area that could benefit from the service.

“We are looking forward to bringing this support to Ōpōtiki,” Maru says.

“We have run the Whakatāne hub for three years and after a customer survey around the area, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau were identified as areas that could really benefit from the service.

“We opened a hub in Kawerau last year and are pleased to finally get something happening in Ōpōtiki too.”

The new Whare Kai offers a range of groceries and essential household products at affordable prices, with three no-cost items available for every $10 spent, up to a maximum of six free items.

Maru says the organisation purchases its food at wholesale prices, while donations through the New Zealand Food Network help supplement its range.

“All our food is purchased at wholesale price and we also receive donations through the NZ Food Network that really helps with the essential groceries and cleaning products,” he said.

Have a Heart’s model is based around providing people with choice and dignity when accessing affordable food, rather than simply handing out pre-selected food parcels. The organisation also operates community Pātaka Kai, where surplus food is made available to anyone at no cost.

Maru said the Ōpōtiki operation would initially open once a week, from 9am to 2pm.

The Whakatāne store at 8B Merritt Street will remain the organisation’s main base, or its “Matua Body” as Maru describes it, with stock for Ōpōtiki being replenished from there.

The expansion has also created another opportunity for people wanting to volunteer locally.

“Our operation relies almost entirely on volunteers and we are always looking for keen people to help out with things,” Maru said.

The opening comes as food prices remain a concern for New Zealand households. Stats NZ’s latest figures show food prices increased 1.9 percent in the year to August, while grocery food prices rose 1.7 percent.

For Have a Heart, the new Ōpōtiki hub is another way of responding directly to that pressure and extending the organisation’s food support network across the Eastern Bay.