{"id":556321,"date":"2026-08-02T15:48:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/556321\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T15:48:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T15:48:24","slug":"team-works-to-supply-food-to-those-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/556321\/","title":{"rendered":"Team works to supply food to those in need"},"content":{"rendered":"

A \u201ctrue community partnership\u201d has resulted in 1100kg of venison meat being processed at the Kurow Racecourse by the Pacific Island community and Southland charity Deer To Care.<\/p>\n

Deer to Care, founded by southern hunters Stu O\u2019Neill, Southland Police senior detective Tim Cook and Niagara manager Wesley Baratcart, aims to tackle food insecurity by donating high quality, locally sourced venison.<\/p>\n

The non-profit\u2019s unique model combines hunting, pest control and community support to create a reliable supply chain of nutritious meat.<\/p>\n

Over 20 men and women including meat industry workers came along to support the cause helping to process the venison hunted in the Waitaki Valley.<\/p>\n

Returning to his hometown for the initiative\u2019s second year in the Waitaki, Deer to Care co-founder Stuart O\u2019Neill said the event was\u00a0a team effort.<\/p>\n

“It really shone a spotlight on the Pacific Island community who turned out,\u00a0who are all about reciprocity and being able to help others and not just themselves, which is pretty cool.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Viliame Mainawalala helped with processing the wild game at the Deer to Care event in Kurow. Photo: Supplied <\/p>\n

“The Kurow Hunting Club bent over backwards to make this happen for us this year.<\/p>\n

“They did a fantastic job,\u00a0Hamish \u201cThomo\u201d\u00a0Thompson, Mark Harroway, Craig Gibb and Steven Black were all instrumental to the project by generously volunteering their time and effort.<\/p>\n

Mr O\u2019Neill said this year the Oamaru Licensing Trust, through Cathy Maaka, helped to fund the operational and processing costs, and the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Trust (OPICT) provided the skilled volunteer workforce.<\/p>\n

“They also bring an incredible team spirit, generosity and sense of community that is simply infectious.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat’s especially exciting is that this has become a true community partnership in every sense,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Deer To Care boners and supporters with rugby legend (right) Jamie ‘Whoppa’ Mackintosh at the event in Kurow who helped on the day. Photo: Supplied <\/p>\n

The 1100 kilos of venison was transferred to Campbell\u2019s Butchery in Oamaru who \u201cgenerously donated their time\u201d, where it will be further processed before distribution, Mr O\u2019Neill said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s quite good that this is a self-sustaining operation and great teamwork, I\u2019m very happy about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Oamaru Pacific Island Trust chief executive Hana Fanene-Taiti said they were grateful for the opportunity to be involved.<\/p>\n

“It was such a privilege to get to take part in the Deer to Care initiative, Stuart\u2019s been pretty amazing shepherding us all in the project and Alesi\u00a0Draunimasi from the trust worked closely with him to organise the day.<\/p>\n

“It was a great day and we were luck the weather was on our side,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cWe had a number of community volunteers that went up with our families and a lot of our team from OPICT as well.<\/p>\n

“We are really grateful for the hunting community up the valley, Deer to Care and the Oamaru Licensing Trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Fanene-Taiti said once the processed meat is received 100% of it will be going out to many families in need, not just Pasifika, across the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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