About the teams
Tōitu te ao, from People and Culture, and Green Sleeves, from Strategy and Planning, are Green Impact teams based in AUT’s WO Building. Led by Alycia Hurley, Senior Recruitment Consultant, and Ji-yeon Wi, Data Scientist, the teams collaborated on a building-wide collection drive for Tautoko, AUTSA’s student support service.
Two Green Impact teams at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) joined forces to turn a workplace collection drive into practical support for students experiencing financial hardship.Two Green Impact teams at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) joined forces to turn a workplace collection drive into practical support for students experiencing financial hardship.
Tautoko provides practical assistance to students experiencing financial hardship across AUT’s City, North and South campuses. With hundreds of students accessing the service each month, demand can exceed the resources available.
From 2 to 19 June 2026, the two teams invited professional staff throughout the WO Building to donate non-perishable food and essential hygiene products. Contributions included canned goods, rice, pasta, noodles and cereals, as well as shampoo, soap, toothpaste and period products.
The drive collected seven large boxes of food and hygiene products, which were delivered to Tautoko on 22 June. Its success relied on support from across the building, including staff who promoted the drive, created and displayed posters, connected the teams with administrators on other floors, supplied collection boxes and helped move the donations.
The collection drive demonstrates how Green Impact can connect people beyond individual teams and turn sustainability engagement into meaningful social impact. By working together, Tōitu te ao and Green Sleeves made it simple for colleagues across the WO Building to contribute to student wellbeing.
The initiative was completed as part of the teams’ Green Impact actions and shows that a straightforward idea, supported by good relationships and shared purpose, can make a tangible difference.
“Demand for Tautoko’s services has grown significantly, with hundreds of students accessing support each month. Contributions of food, grocery vouchers, hygiene products, breakfast supplies or financial support help us continue providing essential assistance to students who may otherwise go without.”
