A new chapter has begun for Tauranga charity Under the Stars, with a new general manager stepping into the role as the organisation continues supporting people experiencing hardship.

Chris Emmett joined Under the Stars at the end of April and brings more than a decade of experience in the not-for-profit sector.

“I’m really community driven, and uplifting the community is part of my psyche,” Emmett said.

His background includes a 14-year tenure with Surf Lifesaving New Zealand in a national role.

“What I do is help small to medium not-for-profits strategically position themselves and that’s where I’m moving into with this role.”

Having grown up in Tauranga and returning to raise a family, Emmett said the move was both a professional and a deeply personal matter, driven by a desire to “give back”.

“That’s going to be my mantra moving forward, to keep uplifting the community which is really close to my heart.”

Emmett said he was drawn to Under the Stars for its grassroots, agile approach to addressing homelessness and food insecurity.

“If I’m being honest, it’s an area where I haven’t had a lot of experience in but it’s an area where the work is really fulfilling and rewarding.”

The Tauranga-based charitable organisation supports people experiencing homelessness and hardship.

Throughout the year, Under the Stars distributes thousands of meals, donated clothing, bedding and other essentials directly to people accessing its services.

“I think Under the Stars is a great little charity that’s been slowly but steadily creating a nice foundation for the Tauranga community,” Emmett said.

Moving forward, he believes the organisation is part of a “wider solution” to homelessness.

“A one-stop solution doesn’t fit everyone, it’s about finding the right solution for a person and their situation, which can be really complex.

“And that’s the thing which makes it really challenging, there needs to be a whole range of different services for different needs across each individual.”

Under The Stars works alongside other community agencies to connect people with housing, health and social support where needed.

“There are a lot of vulnerable people out there, which really stood out, they just need a hand in a non-judgmental, compassionate way,” Emmett said.

In his first month, he spent time working alongside volunteers and staff in meal services to better understand the realities of the work on the ground.

He said those services gave him a “really good” understanding of the issues and challenges in the Tauranga community.

“Now it’s about helping Under The Stars strategically position itself to completely support the community.”

Through its staff and dedicated volunteer base, Under The Stars serves about 2500 meals per month, which is typically done over 88 meal services coming from a monthly bulk cook.

Emmett said the team worked in a compassionate and judgment-free environment where people would feel welcomed.

“The volunteers are here to ensure that people experiencing hardship can access kai support and meaningful connections,” he said.

“The approach is to always welcome people with open arms to come have a meal and hopefully that small gesture improves their situation.”

Looking ahead, Emmett said his priorities for Under The Stars were operational sustainability and resilience into the future.

The organisation is currently navigating challenges with the Cliff Rd facility it operates out of, which was “getting old”.

“It’s important we get a consolidated strategy to start seeing some differences, problems in the community are only going to get worse and we’re a critical part of preventing that,” Emmett said.

“We’re making a big difference in our community and we’ve got to be moving in one direction.”