Te Awakairangi School Stationery Drive

Providing children with the essentials they need to succeed at school.

Our Mission: To help families equip their children with the essential items needed to start the school year with success.

Our Vision: A Hutt Valley where no child begins school without the essentials they need to learn, thrive and feel confident.

Our Why:

Going back to school should be exciting, but for many families it’s a financial strain. After the summer holidays, with costs for uniforms, devices, and holiday care already mounting, even the basics like exercise books, pens, and backpacks can be out of reach. Rising supermarket prices make it harder still: milk is up 15%, butter 22%, eggs 36% this year alone. Families are stretching every dollar.

At the Te Awakairangi School Stationery Drive, we believe every student deserves to start the year equipped and confident. Having the right stationery isn’t just about convenience – it supports attendance, achievement, wellbeing, and upholds their mana.

The Stationery Drive is not about blame or shame. It recognises that times are genuinely tough, and that working together as a community lifts us all.

Since 2023, we’ve grown from a limited number of packs to 220 distributed in 2025 – a 120% increase on the year before. Demand is rising faster than donations, but our goal remains simple: no child in the Hutt Valley should start the school year without the essentials they need to thrive.

Can you help?

The Stationery Drive aims to make life a little easier for families preparing for the school year. Costs add up quickly – uniforms, devices, holiday care, and now rising supermarket prices – so we’re focusing on the essentials: exercise books, pens, glue sticks, and backpacks.

This drive is Hutt City‑wide, collecting donations from across the valley and making sure they reach students who need them, no matter what school they attend or where they live.

Your support – big or small – helps ensure no child starts their school year without the tools they need to succeed.

Rising Costs, Growing Need

Life is getting tougher for many families. Everyday essentials are climbing, and back‑to‑school costs often push budgets beyond breaking point.

Source: weekly shopping receipts, Woolworths Wainuiomata, Oct/Nov 2024 vs Oct/Nov 2025

Our Growth

Since launching in 2023, the Te Awakairangi School Stationery Drive has grown rapidly:

Demand is rising faster than donations. It’s a classic catch‑22: more need, fewer people able to give. We need your help.

Stationery isn’t just about pens and paper. It’s about:

  • Attendance – kids can start school promptly, without delay
  • Achievement – ready to learn from day one
  • Wellbeing – reducing stress, stigma and shame
  • Mana – ensuring students feel confident and equal alongside peers

The Stationery Drive recognises that times are genuinely tough, and that families are doing their best. It’s about community – working together to lift each other up.

Supporting the Drive

There are so many ways you can help make a positive impact, and every bit counts! Here are some easy and meaningful ways you can get involved:

Every little bit helps! Use our handy guides to donate stationery items. Whatever you contribute makes a real difference for tamariki / children in our community.

Through our Givealittle page, you can help us purchase high‑demand items and create complete stationery packs. Your generosity ensures every child has what they need to start the school year strong.

Print off our poster and flyers from the resources page and share them proudly. Every poster helps spread the word. You can find both ready-to-print materials on our resources page.

Like, share, and comment on our Facebook posts, or spread the word in your networks. Every share helps us reach more whānau / families and supporters.

A big mihi / thank-you to the Hutt City Libraries team! Drop off physical items at any Hutt City Library. Look out for branded collection boxes available from December 2025 until Sunday, 8 February 2026.

Our Supporters


We’re beyond grateful for the incredible support we’ve received from individuals and businesses who’ve helped make this Stationery Drive possible. While we can’t possibly name everyone who’s contributed, we want to take a moment to give a big shout-out to those who have made a real difference. Your generosity means the world to us and to the tamariki in our community. Ka pai, and thank you for being part of this kaupapa!