The New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) has found that the demand for food support continues to skyrocket due to the long-lasting impacts of Covid and the increasing cost of living. The survey of 43 food charities discovered the top three reasons for requesting food support were low-paying jobs, unemployment and Covid isolation.
Results also suggested that the pandemic seriously impacted vulnerable members of society. Charities reported a rise in senior citizens on low fixed incomes, people living with disabilities, sickness or injury and those that lost employment due to covid, seeking food support.
“We saw unprecedented demand for food over lockdown, and with every major alert level change came surges in demand. Even though all but a few Covid-19 restrictions have now been dropped, our survey results show the extent to which they have seriously impacted Kiwis. This, along with rising inflation, means food insecurity is likely to get worse. Our food supply system produces thousands of tonnes of surplus/waste so we will continue to connect the dots and help our donor partners to divert more perfectly good food that would otherwise go to landfill towards those struggling to afford the basics,” said Gavin Findlay, NZFN Chief Executive.
The survey reported that NZFN food hubs support over half a million people per month, even though actual numbers are likely to be higher than this. The ability to meet demand levels was 3.6/5 (one being poor and five being excellent), indicating the need for more donations to cope with the increasing pressure.
One of NZFN’s recipient food hubs, Te Rūnunga o Te Whānau, provides food support for Te Whānau ā Apanui iwi in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
“We are very grateful for what we’ve received. We’re a remote community with high levels of poverty, co-morbidities and mortality rates, so services like NZFN are one of the many essential components in uplifting our whānau of Te Whānau ā Apanui Iwi. Getting produce to our doorstep is a major issue due for freight companies - NZFN staff have been advocating for us, and we appreciate their efforts. Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa,” said Louise Schroder, Community Connector.
