we’re fundraising until 11.59pm Sunday 06 July

Theft-Recovery Fundraiser

Why we’re fundraising

Thank you for having a look at our fundraising page!

Sadly, our office/lockup was broken into on the 20th of June. This was the second time in 12 months we’ve had our tools and safe stolen, so we’re fundraising to replace our tools and seriously improve our security systems. We’re a pretty bare-bones charity in its early stages and we don’t have the capital needed to recover from this on our own - we’re hoping for some support to help us bounce back and continue with our goal of making local, sustainably-grown kai available to anyone who wants it on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Because we’re a registered charity, you can claim up to 1/3 of your donation back as a tax credit from IRD.

  • Donations of tools or shipping container

    This fundraiser is aiming to replace the cost of our power tools (approx $3000 stolen this time and $2000 last time). We’re also looking to buy a small shipping container if we’re able to raise sufficient funds. This time round, our office door lost to someone’s sledgehammer, so a shipping container will be a more secure option for our tools. If you’re able to make a material donation (or willing to sell to us!), please contact us!

    Sharing among your own networks

    If you want to tautoko but money is tight, the most powerful thing you can do is share our fundraiser among your own networks - emails, facebook, chats over the office water fountain are all really helpful ways to spread the word!

  • We’re aiming to raise $10,000 of the approximate $12,000 (not including stolen cash) costs the theft has created for Crooked Vege. But any support we gather from the community is hugely helpful!

    Approximate cost of replacing tools

    1. Powertools - approx $1200

    2. “Little bits” (drill tips, hand tools, etc taken) - approx $300

    3. Mist-blower (used for spraying fermented fish fertiliser and microbial inoculants) - $1500

    4. Mower - approx $1000

    Security upgrade costs

    1. Upgrading of commercial locks on buildings and gates - $1500

    2. 8ft shipping container + roof - $5000-$6000

    3. Security camera and alarm installation - TBD (awaiting quotes), approx $1000-$2000

  • Our cash safe, battery AEG power tools (drill, impact driver, circular saw x2, angle grinder, reciprocating saw), Oleo-Mac mist blower (for the spraying of fermented fish and microbial inoculants), lawn mower and a long list of ‘little things’ (drill bits, tips, scales etc). The approximate replacement value is over $5000.

    We’re also fundraising for contributions towards a better security system.

  • Without documenting it too publicly (given recent events!), alarms, cameras, lights, better doors, much beefier locks are the immediate changes. We’re also looking for a small shipping container that we can alarm and store our tools in (please reach out if you happen to know of a disused one!)

  • We’re a certified organic, non-profit market garden based in Ōtaki. We started a little over two years ago, with the belief that everyone should have access to fresh, locally grown and environmentally friendly vege.

    We run a pay-what-you-can vege bag service with Ōtaki College’s Ahoaho māra kai - Ōtaki Vege Bags. We also work with rangatahi from a few education programs.

    We are a registered charity, and have received funding in the past to help with infrastructure and staffing costs, but the vege bag kaupapa is funded entirely by the community (members can choose to pay-it-forward) and our own wholesale work to restaurants and other outlets.

    Crooked Vege has been made possible through many thousands of unpaid hours by a core group (Tae, George, Bella and Jon), and thousands more from the wider community volunteering their time in establishing the farm over the last two years.