Absolute Energy Supports Kai in the Holidays 

Supporting our community during the holiday break 

This year has been a little harder than usual for many people in our region. Over the Christmas and New Year period, when many organisations that usually provide food support take a well-deserved break, the need for kai continues, and in many cases increases. Kai in the Holidays exists to help fill that gap and make sure people still have access to kai when they need it most. 

At Absolute Energy, we were happy to support Kai in the Holidays over the 2025 Christmas and New Year period by providing the use of one of our vans to help with transport and logistics. 

What Kai in the Holidays is about 

Kai in the Holidays is a short term programme that runs during school holidays and over Christmas and New Year. The focus is simple, keep kai moving to people who need it when usual support options are limited. It is organised through Ngā Ringa Toha, a network of local organisations working together to improve food access and food security.  

In 2025, the programme operated across six days, from 22 to 24 December and again from 29 to 31 December. During this time, the team supported 289 people across Nelson, Stoke, Richmond, and surrounding areas. A total of 89 kai boxes were prepared, along with 24 direct household deliveries. 

Many of the people supported were dealing with reduced income during workplace shutdowns, rising rent and living costs, and the loss of school based food support for tamariki during the holidays. 

Leigh from Kōtuitui Community Development Agency shared that having access to the Absolute Energy van made it possible to manage the logistics of the programme and keep kai moving quickly and safely. We are glad we could support in a practical way that made a real difference. 

Volunteers at the heart of the programme 

Around 150 to 180 volunteer hours went into Kai in the Holidays this year. Volunteers supported referrals, sorted food, prepared kai boxes, coordinated deliveries, and supported people on site.The programme also supported other initiatives, including kai tables at Nayland Park Pool, Motueka Food Share, and the YWAM holiday programme for tamariki. 

Any remaining kai at the end of the programme was passed on to YWAM and the Nelson Community Food Bank, ensuring nothing went to waste. 

Why this support matters to us 

At Absolute Energy we work across Nelson, Marlborough, Queenstown, and Dunedin, and we see the importance of strong local communities every day. Supporting community initiatives like this remains an important part of who we are at Absolute Energy and a great way to end the year.