Te Puia 'all about whanau'

GIVING: Te Puia HR manager Denise Emery (left) and Te Rina West with food donations for the Salvation Army. PHOTO/ERIN MAJUREY

With just days of the Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal remaining, Te Puia staff have pulled together their donations for the Salvation Army Foodbank.

Te Puia HR manager Denise Emery said Te Puia supported the appeal each year.

"Over the past few years we have been donating via one of our staff members whose daughter works closely with the Salvation Army, so we normally work through her. This year is the first time we have done it directly."

Mrs Emery said Christmas was the season to give to those less fortunate.

"We are all about whanau, it's a really important aspect of who we are," she said.

"One of our values is whanaungatanga - family values, and ensuring the family are fed, and kaitiakitanga - looking after each other. The staff have been really giving to this Christmas Appeal."

Mrs Emery said in previous years both toys and food had been donated to the appeal but this time they had focused more on food.

Te Puia chief executive Tim Cossar said giving was hugely important at this time of year, and they gave back where they could.

"This weekend is the children's Christmas party for our staff's children and grandchildren and there will be around 100 kids there. It's really important because we work seven days a week, and often kids are at home on the weekends while their parents are working so this is a little way we can say thank you and we appreciate it.

"It's just one of the things we do.

"We have had the staff party, and the one for the elders in the wider Te Arawa area. It's a part of the culture we are trying to develop more and more. It's our people that keep us strong and safe."

The appeal closes on December 23 and around 14,000 items worth more than $28,000 have been collected so far.

Rotorua Salvation Army commanding officer Major Bill Millar said he was humbled by the contributions.