Demand for support grows

The country’s largest not-for-profit food supply and distribution organisation says it has nearly doubled the amount of food going to families.

And a third of those needing food handouts have never taken them before.

The New Zealand Food Network revealed a 42% increase in demand for food support last year compared to 2022 and a whopping 83% increase from 2021.

Food Network chief executive Gavin Findlay said: “Our survey reveals a stark reality that the number of Kiwis struggling to access food continues to rise.

“And this is only set to worsen as we head into the colder months, when families must find extra money to stay warm, dry, and deal with inevitable sickness. More often than not, food falls to the bottom of the priority list, and is why we must continue to take action.”

The bi-annual Food Network food security snapshot surveyed 60 of the Food Network’s partner Food Hubs about the current state of demand for food support from July to December, last year.

Across last year, the Food Network supported an average of 630,000-plus individuals a month with food support via its partner Food Hubs’ various services.

This includes food parcels, community meals, social supermarkets and free stores.

On average, 33%of the Food Hubs’ monthly recipients have never needed to seek their support before.