Food Security

Do you need kai? We run a number of initiatives to get food to those who need it. Because a full puku is a happy puku.

Our food security services operate from our 155 Open Arms hub at 102 Robert Street.

Through 155 Food Rescue, we redistribute surplus kai and keep pātaka kai pantries stocked for our community.

155 Open Arms serves breakfast and lunch six days a week, and 155 Food Bank provides food parcels Monday and Friday, and school snack packs throughout the school term.

Find us at:

102 Robert Street, Whangārei

155 Food Bank

School Snack Packs

Pātaka Kai

Our Team

155 Food Rescue Northland | Whakaora Kai Taitokerau

Call 155 Food Rescue: 022 475 3473

Email 155 Food Rescue

Our 155 Food Rescue operation redistributes a wide range of healthy and nutritious food, making it available for food banks, churches, marae, schools, and any non-profit group or volunteer organisation in need of food.

By reducing food waste ending up in landfill, we are also helping protect our local environment.

If you are:

A community organisation with members in need of kai
or
A food producer with surplus stock to donate

Please contact us via the channels outlined above.

Learn more

155 Food Bank

Mondays and Fridays at 155 Open Arms
9.30am - 12.30pm
102 Robert St, Whangārei
Message 155 Food Bank >

Food parcels for whānau

We are able to offer this service with support from the Ministry of Social Development, Civil Defence, 155 Food Rescue, and kai donations from our community.

Whānau can receive two parcels per month.

To request a parcel:

Come in during the hours listed above and complete a form.

You will need to bring with you:

Photo ID
Bank balance
Work & Income letter (for your second visit within a month)

- or -

Other agencies can make a referral on your behalf.

Reception will then book you an appointment time to see a kaimahi for a korero and to shop for your groceries through our catalogue system.

You will receive a pamphlet where you can pick your own kai through a points system which are used like dollars.

Kaimahi will add up your points and send the pamphlet off for packing. This will take around 5 – 10 minutes.

We are here to awhi the best we can and ask that you have patience when we are running behind schedule.

Please be assured that everyone will be seen.

School Snack Packs

Mondays during term at 155 Open Arms
8.30am - 9am,
102 Robert St, Whangārei

We know sometimes whānau can be short of kai at the beginning of the week. We hope this will awhi for those moments and mean our tamariki can start their week at kura with full puku.

Every Monday during term, we have pre-packed snack bags and a piece of fruit available for tamariki to bring to kura. All you need to add is the sandwich.

How to order:

You can request any time by messaging 155 Open Arms via Facebook and we'll make sure there's a pack ready for your tamariki every Monday. We can provide one pack per child.

Or come along on Monday morning between 8.30am and 9am. We will post on the page if the packs are all allocated.

Pātaka Kai

Our 155 Food Rescue team keeps two pantries stocked with kai to help keep pukus full. They are located outside the whare at 155 Kamo Road, and at the 155 Open Arms reception at 102 Robert St.