It has been so rewarding volunteering at Te Oraka this semester - I loved it! Being part of the team was great, and I think having a space like Te Oraka on campus is so critical for influencing how students feel about sustainability. I’m taking this idea back to the University of Edinburgh to see if they’ll create the same thing!

It was an absolute privilege to have had the opportunity of volunteering at Te Oraka. From supporting local businesses to connecting with the student community, this role has taught me so much about engaging with different systems in innovative and sustainable ways.

It was eye-opening to experience a truly for-good approach to business, one that prioritises people, purpose, and impact. I'm grateful to have the guidance of my great Tētēkura lead and team support, and for the chance to be a part of something genuinely meaningful.

I have been at Te Oraka for three years now, and each year has been different! This impact report is a great opportunity to reflect on how Te Oraka has evolved. Despite spatial changes, Te Oraka’s purpose has stayed the same - to create a welcoming and sustainable space for students. Coffee is always brewing, heat pumps on and students can connect through our Social Club. While not always easy to quantify, the community aspect of Te Oraka is core to our kaupapa and an important part of our impact.

I absolutely love Te Oraka, it’s so supportive of me and my jewellery. It’s awesome to bring sustainability to the campus in such a fun way.

Not only was Te Oraka a space that allowed me to pursue my passion for fashion, branch out to other audiences, and had the physical space to stock my clothes. But Te Oraka allowed me to whakawhanaungatanga with other sellers and the amazing team who ran the Take Over event.

It was an unforgettable experience I am very thankful to have been a part of!

Being part of the Te Oraka workshops this semester has been such a cool experience. I loved running the sewing workshop, it was so fun seeing everyone create their own laptop cases and add their own style. It was an awesome way to connect with others and just have a good time together.

Thank you so much for your incredible support of the Dunedin Curtain Bank. Selling our upcycled bags at Te Oraka not only helps us reduce waste by repurposing curtain and fabric offcuts, but also raises vital funds to keep our curtain bank running.

Most importantly, it helps spread the word to students that they can access free, warm curtains for their flats through our service. We truly value our partnership and we’re thrilled to share that over 50 bags have been sold at Te Oraka this year!

The partnership between Te Oraka and E-rescue has shown (again) that circular rhythms work.

Support for this important mahi comes right from the top, and our collaboration has achieved some impressive outcomes. Our efforts to mature matter as we bridge the digital divide, all guided by our framework: Pae tata.

I’m so very proud of our ongoing partnership with Te Oraka. It’s enabled us to responsibly pass on furniture that no longer meets our needs to Drop for Good, also divert over 200 bags of student donations and abandoned items each semester to Te Oraka.

This not only reduces landfill but also supports students - particularly international students, who often arrive with limited luggage space - by giving them access to affordable essentials for purchase on arrival and a way to give back to the community by donations at the end of their term.

Te Oraka is such a cool space for promoting sustainable living to students. We love running our bike grab events on campus with the Te Oraka crew and have had an awesome time being part of the community. It’s been great meeting students, sharing some bike tips, and helping them get rolling on two wheels.