Media release: Food Charities Call for Sustainable Government Funding

The Salvation Army, Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai, New Zealand Food Network (NZFN), Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective and the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA), are calling on the government and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to commit to long-term, sustainable funding for foodbank and food rescue organisations, as frontline providers face another year of uncertainty.

“Each year we’re left waiting, unsure whether MSD funding will be renewed,” says Janine Donaldson, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army. “That uncertainty doesn’t just affect our organisation, it affects the families who walk through our doors each week, hoping for food and support. The pressure is enormous, because behind every funding decision are real people and real lives depending on us.”

MSD’s Food Secure Communities programme, established in 2020, has invested in national and regional community food distribution infrastructure that increases capacity and creates efficiencies in getting food to communities. This includes a network of community food hubs and foodbanks, supported by national partners such as NZFN, AFRA and Kore Hiakai.

“Christmas is a time when many think about giving, but hunger isn’t seasonal,” says Gavin Findlay, CEO of NZFN. “Every month, more than 500,000 New Zealanders rely on foodbanks and food rescue organisations for support. Continuation of MSD’s Food Secure Communities funding will help keep these families fed not just at Christmas, but all year round.”

The Food Secure Communities organisations say that while the 2025 Budget eventually confirmed the continuation of community food provider grants until the end of June 2026, the lack of a multi-year commitment means providers are left in limbo year after year.

“Every year we’re left wondering if we’ll be funded. It’s unsustainable,” Helen Robinson, CEO of Auckland City Mission, says. “We need to plan, staff, and stock our foodbanks with confidence. That’s impossible when we’re constantly having to re-justify our existence every year to secure funding.”

Frontline teams across the country are seeing familiar faces return regularly, families who are working, budgeting carefully and still unable to afford enough food.

“Food security relies on a whole ecosystem, from national distributors to local foodbanks, food support and food rescue organisations,” says Gavin. “Our role is to keep that system strong and responsive, including during emergencies. That can be done much more effectively and efficiently when funding is stable and allows everyone to plan ahead.”

Last year, Minister for Social Development Hon Louise Upston acknowledged the importance of continuing support for food security, stating that demand remained high, driven by the cost of living. This year, that pressure has only intensified, especially for those on the lowest incomes.

With current funding set to end in mid-2026, the organisations warn that without renewed support, community food providers will be “falling off a fiscal cliff.”

“When MSD’s funding for community food providers has been cut, we’ve seen services close their doors,” Helen says. “While we will always be there to support whānau, when other services close, it increases pressure on everyone and ultimately means some whānau who are hungry will not be able to access food.”

The group of Food Secure Communities-funded organisations is urging the government to recognise foodbanks as essential social infrastructure and to provide multi-year funding agreements that reflect the scale and importance of their work, while longer-term issues with our food system are addressed.

Additional quotes from Food Secure Communities funded organisations:

Iain Lees-Galloway, Executive Director of AFRA, “Food rescue is one of the most efficient solutions we have to ensure good surplus kai gets to people who need it. Over the past year, our members rescued over ten thousand tonnes of surplus food, but the need for food support continues to rise. Three-quarters of our members cite funding insecurity as their biggest challenge.”

Tric Malcolm, Pou Ārahi of Kore Hiakai, “Food insecurity is a daily reality for many whānau. This is because our economic systems do not currently allow all whānau to have access to affordable kai. Until we fix our systems, we need to resource our local communities to work alongside whānau who need support. In the current economic environment, that means we need funding that’s stable and reflects the long-term nature of this mahi.”

Helen Robinson, CEO of Auckland City Mission, “Every day, our teams work with people who simply can’t make ends meet. Food support isn’t just about meals, it’s about dignity, connection, and care. To keep showing up for our communities, we need funding that reflects the reality on the ground, not short-term fixes.”

Gavin Findlay, CEO of NZFN, “Providing emergency food relief, whether during natural disasters or everyday hardship, depends on a stable network of community partners. To keep that network strong, we need consistent funding that allows everyone to plan ahead and respond quickly when it matters most.”

Janine Donaldson, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army, “New Zealand produces enough food to feed forty million people overseas, earning profits equating to $11,000 for every person here. Yet, one in five children goes hungry, including one in three tamariki Māori and one in two Pacific children. Our services are a lifeline; without them, many families would simply go without.”

ENDS