PikUp is a rangatahi-led initiative born out of Tāiki e! — a creative and tech-savvy solution to a very human challenge: food going to waste while whānau go without. The platform connects backyard growers, orchardists, and households with surplus produce to local volunteers and whānau in need.

What began as a prototype during a youth design sprint has grown into a fully functioning digital platform, developed through our Haututu HackLab with support from mentors and community partners. To date, PikUp has picked and redistributed over 10 tonnes of fresh kai across the region.

PikUp is a powerful example of what happens when innovation is grounded in manaakitanga, community care, and rangatahi leadership. It's also a living, breathing expression of the Aroha Economy — where generosity, reciprocity, and collective wellbeing drive decision-making more than profit ever could.

And we’re just getting started.

PikUp is now expanding into new territory with the development of a solar-powered, sensor-enabled Pātaka Kai network. Each smart pātaka will track the flow of food in and out using real-time data, feeding into a live dashboard that provides insight across up to 14 community pātaka kai. This system will help us better understand community needs, ensure food is well distributed, and create a powerful local model of data-informed manaaki.

More than an app, PikUp is a movement — showing what’s possible when you back rangatahi with the tools, the trust, and the space to build the future they believe in.