Let's Share the Burden

Buy a Coffee for the Small Business Community at the Base of Mauao Donate the equivalent of less than a coffee, help save the slip affected local businesses at the base of Mount Maunganui from closure.

A $5.00 donation is all it takes.



For most of us, that is less than a cup of coffee. For many of the small business community at the base of Mauao, it represents something much greater.
In January 2026, tragedy struck the Mount. Lives were lost and our Mount community came together in grief, in support and in the hard work of recovery that followed. That recovery is still ongoing. For businesses at the base of Mauao, it's been a brutal few months. Reduced visitors, lower foot traffic, rising costs and ongoing uncertainty have taken a real toll. Owners have had to let staff go. Some are behind on their leases. Many are simply doing what they can to keep the doors open. 
Key parts of the Mount's infrastructure remain closed or affected, the Hot Pools, the Holiday Park, access to Mauao itself. There is cautious optimism that the Summit Track may reopen later this year, but winter is here now which is the slow season that most of these businesses usually put funds away for and there are no reserve to get through. 
When a local business closes, it's not just a storefront gone. It's jobs, familiar faces and the small things that make a community. A major tragedy occurred here and we can't change what happened. But we can help share the load so that when things do reopen, the businesses that held this community together are still here. If you can, please donate. Just $5 makes a difference.

Let's Share the Burden.

Michelle's Story

Michelle is a local business owner and long standing member of the Mount community. Her children grew up through the Mount surf lifesaving club and like many locals, she has spent years contributing to the community. She is a neurodiverse mother, a breast cancer survivor and someone deeply connected to the people and community that make the Mount special. Since January, Michelle has become a voice for many of the small business owners who have been carrying the weight of the aftermath. For Michelle, this has been about people and a community processing loss; including the emotional weight that still lingers many months later. "The biggest tragedy has been how the loss of life has impacted our first responders and our whole community at the base of the Mauao." 
Her message is simple: Let's share the burden.

The Mauao Business Recovery Fund

  • Support is directed to eligible businesses within the affected community at the base of Mount Maunganui.
  • Applications are treated with dignity and confidentiality.
  • Funding is allocated based on demonstrated need and community impact.
  • Conflicts of interest are declared and managed.
  • Fundraising and distribution outcomes are reported transparently.
  • Unity Aotearoa operates for community benefit rather than private gain in accordance with its governing constitution.

The Mauao Business Recovery Fund has been created to support local businesses at the base of Mount Maunganui experiencing hardship as a result of the recent tragedy and its ongoing effects on our community. We understand that asking for support can be difficult. All applications will be treated with dignity, care and confidentiality.
Apply for Support


The Mauao Business Recovery Fund

Your donation is in safe hands. The Mount Community Recovery Fund is administered by UNITY. Aotearoa, a not for profit social enterprise that exist solely for community benefit. 100% of your donation goes to the Fund, focused on supporting businesses at the Mount. A small amount covers the real running costs of the Fund, nothing more.
Fund Terms and Governance