Faith in humankind restored

Jo Eden from Bunnings, left, and Maree Alleley with the new tools in front of the new garden. Photo / Ben Fraser

Public generosity eases pain caused by theft from community garden.

It is good news for the clients at Te Whare Hauora o Ngongotaha - summer greens and tomatoes are back on the menu.

Two weeks ago the community garden was stripped bare, leaving the service's mental health clients devastated. But volunteer Maree Alleley said generosity in response to the theft had restored her faith in mankind.

Firstly, a new garden at an undisclosed location was donated, then Rotorua Bunnings came forward with new tools, seedlings and labour to dig and plant the new garden.

Rotorua Bunnings complex manager Alan Bunce said when his team learned about the theft they were annoyed about it.

"Most of [the team] have grown up here and couldn't believe rotten scumbags would come in and do something like that to a community organisation," Mr Bunce said.

Te Whare Hauora o Ngongotaha's Rebecca Freeman said the planting programme was important to clients: "It's personal investment, they get to tend, harvest and enjoy the vegetables."

She could not believe someone would take their vegetables, saying it was horrible. "If [the thief] was hungry they should have come inside and we could have organised a food parcel for them. Why steal from a no pennies, non-profit organisation?"

As soon as the garden has been rotary hoed, Bunnings staff from Rotorua, Whakatane and Te Puke plan to make a day of it to dig and plant it.