E Kai soup kitchen setting up to serve a hot meal at its first session on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Nick James
A soup kitchen has been set up in Porirua to help support those dealing with homelessness in the city.
On a cold windy Monday evening, E Kai had its first event in the CBD, providing pumpkin and lentil soup with Rēwena bread to those in need.
The soup kitchen is the only service of its kind in the city and is run by Ngati Toa Rangatira's iwi authority Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council and WELLfed an adult education programme which specialises in cooking.
Toe-Te Roopu Wahina social services is run by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.
General manager Steven Johnson told RNZ the soup kitchen was focused on support for those that were homeless.
"This initiative is set up to be able to provide a warm inviting space, where food is just the entry for those people to come in for us then to be able to put a wider wraparound service to support them where we can."
He expected demand in the soup kitchen to increase as winter approached.
Shane Tepania had been dealing with homelessness until WELLfed helped him out.
He said they helped him get a job and a house.
"Without them I'd probably be back on the streets."
The soup kitchen would be very important to people, particularly in the colder months, he said.
"If we can make a change, make a difference, wow, it's beautiful really just to see."
E Kai will run every Monday from 4 Lyndsey Place in Porirua between 5pm and 7pm.
