Weaving a Tapestry of Community and Kai Resilience

A powerful, community-driven movement is taking root in Te Puke — and at its heart is Vector Group Charitable Trust. This is not a typical charity. It is people committed to weaving a stronger, more connected community, guided by the principle: a community where diversity is celebrated, and every person feels included.

The Trust’s most visible work is food resilience. Flagship initiative Grow Te Puke is changing how residents think about food — cultivating a secure, sustainable local system. Beyond community gardens, it has grown Troppo — an urban tropical food forest and hub for learning and connection. Through workshops in agroecology, permaculture, and syntropic agroforestry, locals gain skills to grow food, share the bounty, and build a healthier, food-secure future.

But the Trust’s mahi does not stop at the garden gate. Its work spans initiatives designed to uplift and unite the community:

• Fostering youth and creative expression: Safe spaces for young people, local talent, and belonging — through youth development and creative programmes.
• Stewarding the land: Partnering with environmental groups on practical projects such as wetlands restoration — championing environmental stewardship across Te Puke.
• Enhancing community spaces: Investments that improve daily life — from the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway to upgrades at the skatepark and Te Puke War Memorial Hall.
• Building a stronger local economy: Collaboration with local enterprise and Te Puke Digital — keeping the community informed, engaged, and connected.

Through these efforts, Vector Group Charitable Trust is building a legacy in Te Puke — inclusivity, resilience, and shared purpose.

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Our impact at a glance