Liah’s mini hummingbird cakes and sugar doughnut cakes

He Kaupapa Kotahitanga Trust (HKKT) was created to “nurture, advocate for, and protect displaced women in Tauranga Moana”, with the vision of ensuring that “no wom[e]n in Tauranga Moana wake up in the morning without a hopeful future”. In pursuit of this objective, HKKT established Awhina House in 2019 to provide homeless wāhine in Tauranga with transitional housing. Recognising the further need within the Tauranga homeless community, HKKT opened Hine Ngākau in May 2021, a walk-in overnight shelter supplying homeless wāhine with a warm bed and kai.

Monique’s caramel cake

Good Bitches Baking has been delivering home baking to Awhina House on Mondays for four years. Barbara Leef, an HKKT Administrator, says the baking is the “perfect antidote to Monday-itis”, and acts as a sweetener during Awhina House’s weekly hui with residents. The baking often serves as a centrepiece at these hui, and is used as a “starting point to get the ladies involved in the meeting by commenting on the wonderful gesture”. This acknowledgement of a Good Bitch’s “good deed” also helps facilitate discussion on HKKT’s organisational tikanga/value of manaakitanga, and how we can “work within manaakitanga by showing kindness towards others” without the expectation of something in return.

For people in Tauranga having a tough time, we are delighted that our baking can help make Mondays a better day.