Meet the Toyotas delivering food to New Zealanders in need
Words: Autocar
Two vehicles supplied by Eastland Toyota and the Greenlea Foundation will help SuperGrans Tairāwhiti reach further into Gisborne’s communities, after a year in which the local charity provided nearly 4,000 kai parcels and helped deliver more than 96,000 meals.
SuperGrans Tairāwhiti spends a lot of time on the road – delivering and rescuing kai, and supporting whānau in remote coastal communities across the wider East Coast.
Last year the team distributed 3,887 kai parcels, helped provide 96,021 foodbank meals, ran 78 workshops, supported 365 people through wraparound services including financial mentoring and social work, and upcycled or redistributed more than 30 tonnes of rescued food.
Backing that effort is an electric Toyota bZ4X, supplied by Eastland Toyota, alongside a new Toyota Hilux funded by the Greenlea Foundation.
Eastland Toyota will also run workshops with SuperGrans covering basic vehicle maintenance, EV technology, safe driving, and automotive career pathways.
Sarah Elliott, Strategic Advisor at SuperGrans Tairāwhiti, says the extra vehicles will be transformative for the organisation’s reach.
“Our team spends a lot of time on the road. Reliable vehicles are what allow us to reach and support isolated whānau, deliver life skills and capability building workshops and programs in rural communities, move rescued kai or basic essentials to where they need to be, and respond fast during emergencies.
“These vehicles will make a real difference to what we’re able to do, while the electric bZ4X also helps us lower our running costs and reduce our environmental footprint.”
Eastland Toyota Branch Manager Aaron Baylis says the dealership is glad to play its part locally.
“SuperGrans is one of those organisations that’s always there when people need a hand. We see the difference they make in our community every day, so when the opportunity came up to help them get around the region more easily, it just made sense.”
The bZ4X will be officially unveiled at SuperGrans Tairāwhiti’s AGM on 11 August, kicking off a long-term partnership supporting Gisborne families.
