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Loose Change Charitable Trust is a newly established organisation based in Te Tairāwhiti, committed to strengthening hauora and building long-term resilience within our rangatahi and whānau. We officially began operating as a registered charitable trust in 2026.
Our team is Māori-led and Māori-governed. While our services are available to all across Te Tairāwhiti where need exists, we prioritise supporting rural Māori communities, where access to consistent wellbeing support is often limited by distance, cost, and opportunity.
When we speak of hauora resilience, we refer to the holistic improvement of wellbeing - taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing), taha whānau (family and social connection), and taha wairua (identity, purpose, and hope). Our focus is on creating pathways that uplift rangatahi and whānau to live healthier, more connected, and more hopeful lives.
Through strong partnerships with local organisations and funders, all of our programmes are fully funded, ensuring they remain free for participants. This removes financial barriers and allows rangatahi and whānau to fully engage in services that support their wellbeing and growth.
Our approach is grounded in connection, consistency, and community. We use fitness, sport, mentoring, and group-based programmes as tools to build discipline, confidence, healthy decision-making, and a strong sense of belonging.
Because when our people are supported to thrive, the strength of our whānau, our communities, and our future grows with them.
Kouma Samson - First presentation to kura for Nona Te Ao, Te Poho O Rawiri Marae, 2024
Our History
Our History
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Loose Change Charitable Trust was founded by Kouma Samson, who relocated from Auckland to Gisborne in late 2022. While adjusting to a new home, town, and whānau life, Kouma made a personal commitment to prioritise his own wellbeing. Despite working full-time, he dedicated himself to early morning and late evening training, openly sharing his journey on social media as a way to stay accountable and inspire others.
It wasn’t long before members of the community began reaching out for support, advice, and training guidance. Recognising a growing need, Kouma began offering free community fitness sessions at the local rugby field. His consistency and genuine connection with people quickly built trust and momentum within the community.
As interest grew, Kouma was approached by Nōna Te Ao Charitable Trust, who saw the impact of his approach and supported the expansion of his mahi. This partnership helped formalise and extend his services, with a shared focus on improving the wellbeing of rangatahi across the Tairāwhiti region.
In 2024, the Loose Change School Programme officially launched. Each week, Kouma travelled across Tairāwhiti working with multiple kura and over 225 students, from Te Araroa to Te Karaka. The response from principals, students, and whānau was overwhelmingly positive. Alongside the core focus on hauora, the programme also contributed to wider outcomes, including improved school attendance, increased participation in representative sports, and strengthened engagement in kura through consistent positive male role modelling.
In 2025, we began the next stage of our journey. While continuing to operate in partnership with Nōna Te Ao, we started building the foundations to establish Loose Change as its own entity — Loose Change Charitable Trust, positioning ourselves for growth, sustainability, and long-term impact from 2026 and beyond.
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