A desire to help the less fortunate in its local community, and teach its children about caring and sharing are some of the reasons Whangārei's Geckos Early Learning Centre built a pataka kai.
The pataka kai community pantry was opened in the centre's Regent base this week by Mayor Sheryl Mai, with Whangārei MP Emily Henderson also on hand, and among the first people to fill it up were students from Whangārei Primary School.
Geckos Early Learning Centre kaiako Anneliese Stunzner said the pataka kai was for the local community to use.
As well, Stunzner said, it was a great way to teach the children about caring and sharing.
''Our kaupapa here is manaakitanga (extending love and compassion to others) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship or management) and an important part of that is the connection to our community,'' she said.