The New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) is celebrating five years of transforming New Zealand's food support ecosystem and supporting Kiwis in need – with a mammoth 5 tonne donation kicking off their Birthday Wishlist.
Since its inception in July 2020, NZFN has been on a mission to redirect surplus and donated food (largely from the corporate and food production space) to its Food Hubs, which distribute it to recipient charities, social supermarkets, and other support groups tackling food insecurity on the front lines.
For their birthday month, NZFN’s one wish is for their donor partners to gift food and essential items from their fifth Birthday Wishlist - a list of the most-needed goods for its Food Hubs to stock foodbanks, community organisations and pantries across the country.
This includes meat and fish, dairy, eggs, fruits and vegetables, hygiene products and more. The very first gift has been generously made by beef and lamb producer, ANZCO Foods, who has donated five tonnes of beef mince, with protein being one of the most in-demand items for Food Hubs.
The mince is destined for NZFN’s recipient Food Hubs, with three tonnes going to the Auckland distribution centre to service the North Island, and two tonnes going to the Christchurch distribution centre for the South Island.
ANZCO Foods Chief Executive Officer, Peter Conley, said the company was proud to contribute to the Wishlist and help ensure nutritious food reaches those who need it most.
“At ANZCO Foods, we see ourselves as more than a food producer. We’re committed to supporting the well-being of all New Zealanders, and that starts with access to quality nutrition," said Conley.
"We’re proud to support NZFN’s Birthday Wishlist and help connect our premium beef mince to hungry families across New Zealand.”
Since 2020, ANZCO Foods has donated almost 50 tonnes of food to support NZFN’s Food Hubs. The company also provides recipe cards in the food parcels to help families turn their beef mince into nourishing meals.
Founded at the height of one of New Zealand’s worst hunger crises, Covid-19, NZFN had an urgent mission to quickly address the food insecurity sweeping through the population as unemployment, sickness and financial strain soared.
It was set up in a matter of days with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and helped tackle the dual issues of food insecurity and food waste through a collaborative national model.
But the efficiency of NZFN’s model has meant it has operated largely behind the scenes. Many people still don’t realise that their work is not only ongoing, but even more demanding today.
“Five years ago, we set out to help everyone access nutritious, high-quality food no matter who or where they are. Thanks to the generosity of our amazing partners, the dedication of our Food Hubs, and the support of donors, we’ve been able to work towards building more food-secure communities throughout the country," said Gavin Findlay, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food Network.
“Yet, food insecurity remains a daily reality for far too many Kiwis. The demand for support hasn’t eased since the pandemic – if anything, it’s grown as more families face rising costs and tough sacrifices every day. The work is far from done.”
NZFN’s fifth birthday offers a chance to reflect on how far the sector has come, and what’s next.
“We’ve cultivated a network of people and organisations who believe that no one in New Zealand should go hungry – and this mindset of collaboration and helping one’s neighbour is something we need to take into the future," added Findlay.
“As we look to the next five years and the sector faces more adversity, we’ll keep calling on even more businesses, growers, and individuals to join the movement and help create a food-secure New Zealand.”
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