In a world where climate action and community care are more urgent than ever, two Wellington-based organisations step in. Kaibosh and Thundergrid are showing what’s possible when innovation meets compassion.
Kaibosh, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first dedicated food rescue charity, took a bold step forward in its sustainability journey by installing an electric vehicle (EV) charger at its Kāpiti-Horowhenua base in 2025. The charger, provided by Thundergrid, supports Kaibosh’s growing electric fleet, helping them to rescue and distribute food with zero emissions.
Future Ready
“We are now able to charge our EV vans overnight to get them ready for our daily food rescue run by the next morning. That’s working really well”, explains Keltie Westling, Kaibosh’s Kāpiti-Horowhenua Operations Manager.
”We’ve received fantastic support to de-carbonize our fleet in the past year. We have a couple of different makes of EV vans. The Thundergrid team have been so responsive and helpful, visiting us to fine tune the charger and test it with our vehicles.”
But this is more than just a tech upgrade. It’s a symbol of how smart infrastructure can empower social good.
From Food Waste to Food Rescue: Kaibosh’s Mission
Kaibosh has been rescuing surplus food since 2008. They are collecting quality produce from a variety of food donors. Supermarkets, vege markets, food manufactures, eateries, orchards and farms are donating quality surplus food. Food is checked for quality and safety by a network of committed volunteers, then redistributed out to over 160 community partners across Kāpiti, Horowhenua, the Hutt Valley and Wellington. Their vision is simple yet powerful, Zero Food Poverty, Zero Food Waste.
In the 2024/25 year alone, Kaibosh:
• Redistributed 900,521 kg of food
• Provided the equivalent of 2,001,158 meals worth of kai to communities
• Prevented 2,300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions from entering the atmosphere
Their work supports a diverse range of charities and community groups. From Marae to youth programmes, soup kitchens, food banks, meals for the elderly, cooking classes and more, Kaibosh is ensuring that good kai reaches people who need it and supports vital social services and activities for all.
Second Harvest: Rescuing Food at the Farm Gate
In 2024, Kaibosh launched Second Harvest. It’s a visionary pilot project that takes food rescue further upstream in their region than ever before. They are not only rescuing at the end of food supply chain at the retail level. Instead Kaibosh now collects fresh produce at the source directly from local farms in Kāpiti and Horowhenua. The team collects fruit and vegetables that are perfectly edible but don’t make it to market. This is due to size, shape, or cosmetic imperfections or at times of seasonal surplus.
“We are adding more farms and therefore the area we are covering is really extending. With more Kaibosh EV vans this year, we needed to rethink our charging habits and the ranges we can cover to ensure a smooth operation”, Keltie Wesling notes.
These rescued crops are brought back to the Kāpiti site in huge farm crates, to be sorted by volunteers. The teams either pack farm fresh produce into boxes for immediate distribution to Kaibosh community partners. Otherwise, they take the damaged and bruised fruit and veg and turn it into soups, stocks and baking at Kaibosh’s Production Kitchens in Paraparaumu and Pito-one. In the first year of their Second Harvest work partnering with local farms, over 50 tonnes of farm-fresh kai has been saved. From oversized cabbages, small onions, lumpy potatoes and odd pumpkins, more nutritious kai can reach whānau who need it across the region.
Thundergrid: Smart Charging for a Smarter Future
Thundergrid, a Wellington-based EV charging solutions provider, is known for its smart, scalable, and sustainable charging infrastructure. Their chargers dynamically manage energy loads. This ensures EVs charge efficiently without overloading the grid. This is especially important as New Zealand transitions to electric transport.
By installing a Thundergrid charger at Kaibosh, the organisations are:
- Supporting Kaibosh’s electric fleet operations
- Reducing transport-related emissions
- Demonstrating how clean tech can amplify social impact
If a new faster EV charger needs to be added to the network, Thundergrid will continue to make sure the operations run effectively. We will look into additional solutions tailored to Kaibosh’s needs.
From the Front Lines: Kaibosh and EV Charging
Kaibosh’s General Manager, Keltie Westling, shared her experience working with Thundergrid:
“Thundergrid is incredibly responsive and very experienced. They guided us along the journey and continue to support us.
Their team is truly passionate about sustainability and supporting local organisations like us. Together, we can make an even bigger impact for our community and the climate.”
EV Fleet Impact: Driving Real Change
Kaibosh’s transition to electric vehicles is already delivering measurable results. Their EV fleet contributes directly to their environmental goals by:
- Reducing tailpipe emissions to zero for food rescue operations
- Lowering operational costs compared to petrol vehicles
- Supporting the prevention of over 2 million kg of CO₂ emissions in 2023/24 alone
As their fleet grows, so too will the environmental benefits—making every rescued meal even more sustainable.
A Partnership That Powers Possibility
This collaboration is a shining example of what happens when technology meets purpose. Kaibosh’s food rescue efforts are now powered by clean energy. And Thundergrid’s smart infrastructure is helping a vital community organisation operate more sustainably.
Together, we’re:
- Tackling climate change
- Reducing food waste
- Supporting vulnerable communities
- Building a model for sustainable social enterprise
Want to Get Involved?
Whether you’re a grower, donor, volunteer, or tech enthusiast, there’s a place for you in this movement. Support their Second Harvest initiative, donate to their impactful mission, or explore Thundergrid’s smart charging solutions for your own fleet or building.
Visit Kaibosh’s Second Harvest page to learn more or Thundergrid’s website to explore their EV charging solutions.