Super Support: Power of Partnership
Across the Western Bay of Plenty, rising living costs are placing enormous pressure on older people who rely solely on New Zealand Superannuation. Many are living week to week, forced to make tough choices between paying rent, covering health expenses, or buying food. For some, this has meant going days without a proper meal.
Acorn Foundation has long prioritised elder support, and in 2023, this commitment helped spark a new solution. When Tauranga City Council began hearing consistent concerns from local organisations about older people going hungry, they reached out to community partners to ask: ‘What can we do together?’ Out of those conversations, Super Support was born.
Super Support is a collaborative initiative that unites Age Concern Tauranga, Tauranga Community Foodbank, Good Neighbour, Bay Financial Mentors, and Here to Help U, with the support of Tauranga City Council. By pooling resources, and sharing expertise, these partners have built a seamless system that reaches older people quickly and with dignity. The results show the power of this collective approach:
- More than 1,600 older people have received support in the past 18 months.
- Over 2,500 ready-made meals have been delivered, alongside groceries to create an additional 13,000 meals.
The programme secured $170,000 in new funding in 2024 from Acorn and other funders, enabling an expansion into Katikati and the recruitment of a dedicated social worker and health coach.
Tauranga Community Foodbank had previously struggled to connect with the 65+ age group, and Super Support has opened doors. Many older people are reluctant to ask for help, but the coordinated, compassionate approach has reduced barriers and created trust.
“Super Support has helped bridge a gap for seniors, and conversations were started which in turn can bring other services to the person in need.” – Tanya Smith, Age Concern Tauranga.
This is exactly the kind of outcome Acorn donors make possible. Contributors to the Vital Impact Fund, as well as distributions from the B Nalder and R&M McGowan endowment funds are not only providing food support but enabling a partnership model that addresses the deeper issues of ageing, isolation, declining health, and financial strain.
In recognition of this partnership, Super Support received the Best Collaboration Award at the Western Bay Community Awards in 2024, a testament to what can be achieved when organisations work side by side with a shared purpose.
Super Support is proof that when we come together, we can achieve far more than any one organisation could alone.