We're so excited you've found your way to Koha Tree, a place where communities come together to support each other through the beautiful practice of koha.
Koha Tree is a community-driven platform that makes it easier for people like you to give, volunteer, and create projects that make a real difference in your local community. Built with aroha (love) by volunteers across Aotearoa, our platform connects kaituku (gifters), tūao (volunteers), and kaiwhakahaere kaupapa (project managers) in one beautiful digital whānau.
We started with Shoebox Christmas Aotearoa - our flagship program that ensures every Kiwi kid gets a choice Christmas. But as our amazing rangatahi (youth) leaders heard what their communities needed, Koha Tree grew to support all kinds of projects: stationery starter packs, kai (food) redistribution, cyclone relief, birthday presents, and so much more.
Everything we do is rooted in the Māori concept of koha - gifts given freely that create meaningful connections between people. We believe in the whakatauki (proverb): "Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi" (With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive).
This isn't about charity - it's kotaitange (collective action and togetherness) and aroha in action. When you participate in a project on Koha Tree, you're not just giving or receiving; you're strengthening the bonds that hold our communities together.
Koha Tree was built entirely by community leaders to make it easier to come together as a community. Led by Pera Barrett and supported by incredible people like David Broome, Steve Mosely, William Minty, Raza Akmal and Pushpendra Singh, every feature you see was designed with aroha to make community giving easier and more meaningful.
Our community coordinate projects across the country. Everything is done voluntarily because we believe that when communities support each other, magic happens.
Whether you want to give a gift, lend a hand, or create your own project, there's a place for you in our community. Our platform is designed to be simple, warm, and accessible to everyone - because every contribution matters, and every person has something valuable to offer.
Ready to get started? Browse our projects, create your account, or just have a look around. Our community doesn't exist without people like you.
Ngā mihi nui (thanks a lot),
The Koha Tree Whānau
