Our Story
SuperGrans Manawatū Charitable Trust has been operating in the greater Manawatū since 2005.
Our Vision
A community that utilises its resources to ensure all people have sustainable life skills to support them in an equitable future.
Our Purpose
To support and strengthen the community through in-home mentoring and workshops. To share skills and knowledge for safe, healthy, sustainable budget living to enable individuals and whanaū to take greater control of their own future.
SuperGrans was first established in 1994 in Lower Hutt by Erin McMenamin who at the time was volunteering for the local foodbank. Erin noticed that people were removing items from their food parcels that they were unsure of how to use. Erin was concerned that half of the food parcel was being returned so thought that this was where we can do the best to help people and communities and so the concept of SuperGrans was born.
There are now 12 branches throughout the country, who although are separate trusts with their own community emphasis, all share the common goal of sharing skills and knowledge particularly in the food area. See Supergrans Aotearoa website for more information.
SuperGrans Manawatū Charitable Trust has been operating in the Manawatū since 2005 after receiving a grant from the Ministry of Social Development. The organisation began with 1 part time staff member and volunteers. We have evolved since and presently have six volunteer Trustees, five paid part time staff and are supported by a team of 45 volunteers.
Our volunteers are people of all ages from all walks of life who are able to draw on their experience in household management, raising a family, gardening and general practical skills. They pass on skills and gift their time to help people achieve their goals in everyday life skills. They come from diverse backgrounds (and not all are grans!)
We are funded through a generous donation from the Wright Family Foundation and grants from Palmerston North City Council, the Lotteries Grants Board and other generous supporters.
Our People
Our Team
Joanne Baird
Manager
Joanne started at SuperGrans Manawatū in 2015 as One on One Co-ordinator and was promoted to Manager in 2019. She has a background in occupational therapy and family support work. With a passion for positive skill-passing and a firm belief in intergenerational mentoring she feels very privileged to work for this wonderful organisation. Joanne enjoys getting to know the highly skilled mentors who volunteer for SuperGrans and finding new ways to utilise their skills while meeting the needs of our Manawatū community.
Georgie Rynhart
Workshop Facilitator
A Palmy local, Georgie grew up on the outskirts of town in a household where something was always being grown or harvested or preserved or repaired. After a degree in Horticulture at Massey and a few years working in the Plant Science area, Georgie has spent the last phase of her life planting, pickling, preserving, sewing, knitting and mending while raising 4 children. She started working with SuperGrans at the end of 2023 and is excited that she is now able to share those traditional skills with more than just her family.
Lucy Palmer
Administrator
Having grown up in Palmerston North, Lucy is now raising her own two children in this great city. While spending time at home with her children, she has enjoyed finding moments to sew, grow flowers and learn how to upholster furniture.
Lucy has an administrative background, having worked for other community organisations. She is excited to join SuperGrans and the wonderful team and what they do for the community.
Lucy, Esther, Jayme, Georgie, and Joanne
Our Board
Heinz Fellerhoff
Chair
Heinz currently resides in Palmerston North and is of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu descent.
He is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in both the public and commercial sectors. He is currently the Service Line Finance Business Partnering Manager at Massey University and has a breadth of experience in the community sector, primarily in the social and environmental fields, which has allowed him to develop strong governance and strategic planning skills.
He believes community connections to be vital for people to retain a healthy and balanced life, and believes SuperGrans plays a major role in achieving that for the Palmerston North and surrounding communities.
Jane Barton
Trustee
Jane has a rural background and is originally from Mangamahu.
She has worked in senior leadership roles in several polytechnics over the past years. This career followed her time as a social worker in both NZ and Australia. Both careers allowed her the opportunity to encourage and support people of all ages and origins to succeed in both education and community life.
She is now retired and finds it a privilege to be a member of the board for SuperGrans and be able to work alongside like minded members of the board to meet the goals of this remarkable organsiation.
Debbie Fulton
Trustee
Originally from Gisborne, raised in the Hawkes Bay, working in Palmerston North, then raising family on a lifestyle block in Halcombe, Debbie has found her home in the Manawatū for many years.
Debbie’s background is in business and accounting, after studying at Massey University, and working across many industries, her last working role was for the Manawatū District Council in their Accounting Finance team.
Raising 3 children is where her passion for volunteering came alive. Her volunteering has spanned many committee roles including Plunket, Playcentre, and as treasurer for the Halcombe School board of trustees. After retirement, she heard about SuperGrans from a friend, and loved the concept and the work they did for the Manawatū community, so decided to join the board and get involved in 2025.
Alongside SuperGrans and being a Neighbourhood Support volunteer/treasurer, Debbie enjoys doing anything crafty, gardening, and her new interest, reformer pilates.
Viv Stanley
Trustee
Viv has lived in the Auckland and Wellington regions for much of her life, working mainly in Administration/Team Leader roles in the public, private and not for profit spheres. She retired in 2023 and made the move from Kapiti to Feilding. She has been involved with a number of voluntary organisations over the years, including over 10 years with Lifeline as a phone counsellor, trainer and group leader. Viv began her involvement with SuperGrans in 2024, attending sewing skills workshops before becoming a volunteer, involved with cooking classes and one on one mentoring.
Having seen first hand the benefits for those attending SuperGrans workshops and classes, Viv is committed to the work the organisation does and to seeing it flourish.
Jane Coad
Trustee
Jane has lived in Palmerston North since 2001, but she is originally from the UK. Before retiring, Jane worked in education roles, most recently as professor of nutrition at Massey University. Because of this, she is passionate about good food (growing, cooking, eating), health and nutrition – and is also a keen gardener and does voluntary work for Green Corridors. Alongside her love of good food, Jane is also a keen embroider. She enjoys teaching a range of skills, including those she learned from her mother and grandmother. Being part of SuperGrans has become an important part of her life.
Our Funders
We would like to express our thanks to the many supporters who have helped us help the community. Our free services have been made possible with the generous assistance from the following funders and others:
