The Maru Energy Trust’s annual pyjama appeal aims to help keep King Country families warm in winter.
Staff from The Lines Company (TLC) kick-started Maru Energy Trust’s 2025 Kahumoe Kaupapa PJ Project with a $400 donation.
“With this donation, we have already purchased 46 pairs of new winter pyjamas ready to be distributed,” said Maru Team Lead Renee Parkes. “We’re hoping staff at other local businesses, as well as families and individuals, will share the love and do the same.”
This is the fourth year the Kahumoe Kaupapa appeal has been held. It began in 2022 with 497 pairs of pyjamas donated, doubling in 2023 to more than 900 pairs, and last year saw 1,067 pyjamas distributed to people in need.
Maru Energy Trust chair Brian Hanna said he was hoping the community could help.
“It's heartbreaking, but the sad reality is that there are some people in our communities - young and old, who go to bed cold,” he said.
Hanna says that Maru’s focus is to support homeowners to have healthier and warmer homes through insulation and heating but also knows that it’s hard to sleep when you're cold.
“A good night's sleep is crucial for children to excel at school and for adults to give their best each day. The PJ Project is a way for everyone to give just a little bit.”
Maru promotes the Kahumoe Kaupapa PJ Project, collects the pyjamas on behalf and provides them to community organisations who then distribute them to whānau in need. Parkes said the appeal is for brand new pyjamas, sized from newborns to adults.
“We’ve had wonderful support in the past and we’re hoping the appeal will attract the same kindness and generosity again this winter,” said Parkes.
Pyjamas can be dropped at two collection points – the TLC office in King St, Te Kūiti, and TLC’s depot at 5 Peka St in Taumarunui. The Kahumoe Kaupapa PJ Project appeal closes on Monday 30 June, but pyjamas will be distributed earlier as needed, Parkes said.
“This Maru initiative has been very successful and with needs increasing, it is greatly valued by families within our community,” said Leanne Oldfield who works for the Ōtorohanga Support House Whare Āwhina.
Wendy Valler, who works for the Waitomo Waipa Women’s Refuge, said they were grateful to receive donations of pjs for people they work with.
“Whether we drop these off to families in the community or give them to women and children who come into our safehouses, the overwhelming response is gratitude,” said Valler. “When they hear the pjs come from people in our community who want to make sure everyone has something comfy and warm to wear to bed, people can become quite emotional.”
Lucretia Goodwin from the Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust is proud to support this kaupapa.
“With the current state of our society - increased living costs, unemployment, high rents, poor state of housing, homelessness and the need for emergency housing, and the struggle for whānau to put kai on the table, our whānau are more than appreciative of the support given by Maru Energy Trust.”
Having a warm pair of kahumoe during the colder months, helps to keep our whanau warm at night, to support better sleep and contributes to overall Hauora.
Those who cannot give pyjamas, but want to help, can make a donation that will be used to purchase pyjamas: Maru Energy Trust, bank account number 03-0449-0011383-000. Please note the PJ Project as a reference.
Cosy in pyjamas, two-year old Mosese Tangilanu of Te Kūiti will be snuggly warm this winter thanks to a gift of new pjs from Maru Energy Trust’s appeal.
For more information, email the Maru team at hello@maru.org.nz or call 0800 808 901.