Why We're Backing the Arts Across Aotearoa
Fifteen years after the earthquakes reshaped Christchurch, Hummingbird Coffee is backing the arts across Aotearoa – through a new principal partnership with The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi.
13 Jul 2026
We've always believed in the power of the little things. Small actions, done with care, that ripple out into something bigger. It's how Hummingbird Coffee started – and it's still how we think today.
From our earliest days as a small Ōtautahi Christchurch roastery, we've chosen the harder, better way of doing things – sourcing specialty-grade beans from growers we trust, roasting each origin with care, and building relationships that last. We were proud to be one of the first roasters in New Zealand to import Fair Trade Organic coffee. That same belief in doing right by people, from crop to cup, is what our Green Bean Fund carries on today – supporting communities right here in Aotearoa.
Christchurch shaped all of this. It's where we found our wings, and it's a place that has taught us about resilience, community and creativity in equal measure. When the earthquakes hit in 2011, we opened our Re:START café, created the Re:START blend, and put funds back into rebuilding beloved institutions like the Court Theatre. That moment set something in motion – a belief that showing up for your community isn't optional. It's the whole point.
Fifteen years on, that spirit is still going strong. Which is why we're proud of a new principal partnership with The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi, backing artists and their stories right across the motu. Since 1998, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi has backed New Zealand's most outstanding and emerging artists with financial support, mentorship and recognition – helping ensure creativity keeps thriving in communities nationwide.
"We've seen how creativity can be a catalyst for positive change. Our journey into giving began after the Christchurch earthquakes, where we saw firsthand what happens when a community invests in creativity to transform a place. Now, we're proud to partner with The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi to back the arts right across Aotearoa." – Hummingbird Coffee General Manager Nick Cowper
It's a fitting next step. Investing in creative talent means investing in the people who bring connection, emotion and inspiration to our communities – the same ripple effect we've believed in from day one. As part of this commitment, we also funded a dedicated Springboard Award for an emerging Christchurch artist, giving them the support and space to grow, in the same city we did.
"The creative sector contributes so much to Aotearoa – both economically and culturally – but it needs financial backing, not just belief, to secure its future. Hummingbird Coffee has shown true leadership as a business that believes in the power of creativity. This partnership is about more than support – it's about recognising and amplifying the role artists play in shaping our culture." – The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Kaiwhakahaere Executive Director, Jessica Palalagi.
From growers at origin to artists here at home, we believe in backing the people who create something worth holding onto. This partnership is just the beginning – and we can't wait to share the stories, the artists and the moments that come from it.
That's the power of the little things. And we're all in.
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