Effective Food Rescue in Aotearoa

The kaupapa of AFRA is to support and advocate for the food rescue sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our vision is to create a future where no food is wasted and no one who needs food goes without.

AFRA was launched in March 2021 as part of the New Zealand Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on food insecurity for New Zealand households.

Within a year the organisation grew from an initial membership of 17 to 29 food rescue organisations, and is continuing to grow.

Food rescue – turning an environmental problem into a social solution.

A ‘food rescue’ organisation prevents food from being wasted by collecting and redistributing food to people in need. They go into supermarkets, collect food that is past its ‘best before date’ (as opposed to its ‘use by’ date), and bring it back to a depot to pack it into food boxes, or put it on shelves, so that other organisations such as Women’s Refuge can collect it. This means that good quality food is kept from being wasted and going to landfill.

Food is a basic necessity and yet in New Zealand alone, billions of dollars of edible food is wasted, to be left decomposing in landfills, while one in five children live in households facing food insecurity.

AFRA members, with the support of over 4000 of volunteers across Aotearoa collect, store and distribute thousands of tons of good quality, nutritious food to over 1,000 recipient organisations.

Our members are supported by community food donors – supermarkets, cafes & restaurants, local growers and other food producers.

A ‘Good Samaritan’ clause (section 352) was put into the Food Act 2014 to protect food businesses (that trade in food) who donate food. Provided the food was safe and suitable when it was donated, and came with any information needed to keep it safe and suitable, the donor is protected from civil or criminal liability under the Food Act.

What does AFRA do?

AFRA is a registered charity, and an Incorporated Society which supports and advocates for our food rescue members and the wider sector. AFRA is a collaboration of more than 30 organisations involved in food rescue across the motu.  

Our purpose is to provide national support for local food rescue organisations to reduce food waste and increase food security.

In the last year (2021-2022) AFRA members redistributed around 10 million kilograms of food or the equivalent of over 29 million meals to more than 1,000 recipient organisations across Aotearoa, avoiding 20,250 tonnes of Co2 emissions.

AFRA delivers for its members through our four pillars: Collaboration, Best Practice, Capacity Building and Advocacy.

For more information check out our AFRA Annual Report and our Action Plan.

Becoming an AFRA member

Our member organisations are incredible champions in their communities. We are hugely inspired by their commitment, professionalism and care. AFRA was created through consultation with the food rescue sector, so our values reflect the mahi of our members.

We are always happy to talk with food rescue organisations about becoming part of the AFRA whānau. To learn more about how to become a member check out our membership page.

Becoming a food donor

If you are a business and are interested in learning more about donating food to a local food rescue organisation, AFRA has released a Food Donor Guide that could help inform you.

The guide includes an overview of food rescue in Aotearoa New Zealand and how to get in touch with AFRA members in your area. It also provides practical information about what to donate and what to expect if you partner with a food rescue organisation.

How does food rescue work?

Our members collect food from local food donors. Across the country there are thousands of businesses passing on good quality surplus food to our members. Many of our members are also food hubs for the New Zealand Food Network, which collects donated bulk food from producers and distribute it to food rescues and other community food providers.

After collection, our members sort the food and either pass that onto community groups to distribute to individuals, or some food rescues – like free stores – give food directly to members of their community who need it.

Our members are highly collaborative agents in their local community – this means they work alongside other agencies that are helping people with additional needs they may have as well as accessing food.

Addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity takes a holistic approach and we’re proud our members are an important part of the solution.

Our Values

Manaakitanga

We have a huge respect for our members, and for the meaningful impact of the food rescue on people and the environment.
We never lose sight of the incredible work our members strive to do in their communities, and everything we do is in order to support, help, and encourage our member organisations so they can succeed in their work.

Open Communication

We are up front about what we know and what we’re thinking. We welcome and encourage our members and supporters to talk to us and when they do we listen, learn and are influenced by their input.
Open communication is important to us because we want to achieve great work for the benefit of the food rescue kaupapa alongside our members and allies.

Integrity

We believe in the moral and ethical purpose of our work and we take on the responsibility of leadership.
We hold ourselves accountable to our members and supporters and we strive to earn their trust by being consistent, thoughtful and genuine. We regard that sense of trust crucial.

Our Board

Stu Ennor

Chairperson (AFRA Board); Kairos (GM)

Stuart leads a team in Christchurch at Kairos Food Rescue – a free store and food distribution warehouse model. Kairos has become a key hub in the city for food redistribution. He also leads The Christchurch Food Bank Network which is bringing all the food banks in Christchurch together to share food and resources with one another.

Working with Civil Defence and MSD to have a big impact in the city. Stu is passionate about collaboration with each another and the power of what can be achieved when we work together.

Rebecca Culver

Just Zilch (GM)

Rebecca grew up in Upper Hutt and moved to Palmerston North to complete a Bachelor of Communications at Massey University. After a few years, while volunteering, the idea for a free store, Just Zilch, came up. After nine months of planning with a small team Rebecca found herself to be the founder of this now successful organisation.

Ten years later Rebecca is the Managing Director of Just Zilch, which serves Palmerston North and the wider region. Rebecca has assisted a dozen free stores to open around the country and inspired people overseas as well.

Rebecca is passionate about food rescue and the diverse range of practices, including free stores and food rescue distribution. She wants to see rescue models throughout New Zealand and access to good food for everyone.

Simone Gibson

Good Neighbour (GM)

Simone Gibson has been GM of Good Neighbour Aotearoa Trust in Tauranga since just prior to the first Covid lock down in 2020. Over this time there have been many challenges in the food rescue and food security space where her business experiences, innovation and collaboration skills have been utilised and allowed Good Neighbour to navigate the changes and grow through them.

Simone has been part of the local Mana Kai, Mana Ora Food Sovereignty and Security Plan working group which aims to ensure we have a kai secure and well-connected community by 2030. This project will bring together those that have the same passion for a local Kai System and the vision to see it flourish.

Peter Nicholas

Food Rescue Northland, Manager

Pete is of Maʻukean – Ngāti Teʻakatauira – and Pākehā descent. He grew up in Taranaki, lived in Wellington for a decade, and moved to Whangārei 8 years ago. Prior to working for One Double Five Community House, his professional experience was in hospitality.

Due to his strong social and environmental justice values, he leapt at the chance to be involved with Food Rescue Northland in 2017.
From weighing avocados in the back of a van in a carpark, solo, to running the sophisticated, streamlined operation that exists now, has been an incredible journey for him and his amazing team.

He considers himself fortunate to hold this values-driven position, but desires a future where food insecurity is non-existent, and the seriousness of climate change is avoided.

Kate Porter

AFRA Board Member

An experienced communications and reputation leader, Kate is a founding member of the New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 and a current board member of the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA). Previously Head of Communications and Community for Countdown and Woolworths New Zealand, Kate oversaw the company’s internal and external communications as well as its community and charity partnerships, Food for Good Foundation, and the Countdown food rescue programme.

Kate has strong relationships across the food rescue and food charity sectors, and advocates for the inclusion of food rescue as a critical part of Aotearoa’s waste infrastructure, playing both an environmental and social role to reduce food waste and food poverty.

David Savage

AFRA Board Member

Specialising in Leadership and Collaboration, David Savage is a Coach and Trainer with nearly 20 years experience. He’s coached leaders on the post-earthquake Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team and the Memorial Park Alliance in Wellington, as well as numerous not-for-profit organisations here in New Zealand and in the Pacific.

Having travelled to different parts of the world and witnessing first hand poverty and deprivation, he’s excited to be part of the AFRA board and see its members make such a tangible and positive difference to people and planet.

Our Advisory Board

Katy Bluett

Katy is the Establishment Director of Future Food Aotearoa, and was previously Group Manager – Food and Beverage at Callahan Innovation.
Katy is an experienced leader, passionate about the future of food and commercialising innovation. She enjoys working with emerging businesses to reach their potential.

Tessa Vincent

Tessa was a founder of NZ Food Waste Champions 12.3 and was instrumental in the initial establishment of AFRA, and supported the alliance as Engagement Lead before heading to Oxford University to undertake a Masters in Public Policy.

Tessa is also currently a Research Assistant for Race to Zero, a United Nations campaign that aims to mobilise cities, companies, regions and non-state actors to contribute to halving emissions this decade and reaching net zero by mid-century.

Mark Barthel

Mark is the Chief Operating Officer for Stop Food Waste Australia.
He has a strong 25-year track record in identifying, managing, communicating and finding solutions to difficult environmental and sustainable development issues, with a particular focus on sustainable innovation in agri-food systems.

Gareth Hughes

Gareth is the Country Lead of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance – an international organisation that champions a system change away from pure economic indicators to a holistic understanding of growth, prosperity and sustainability.

Gareth served for a decade as a Member of Parliament and in his last term was the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Select Committee.

He has a long background campaigning for the environment and prior to Parliament worked for Greenpeace.

Dawn Hutchesson

General Manager

Dawn is a highly regarded sector specialist with over 20 years of national and international experience in community, local and central government (policy development) and commercial producing. Dawn was appointed as Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance’s General Manager in 2021, to provide national support for local food rescue organisations to reduce food waste and increase food security.

She has been instrumental in bringing the alliance together to collaborate in the development, implementation and execution of AFRA’s strategic action plans. She also  leads and manages AFRA’s high-performing operational team, while ensuring team wellbeing and strong relationships with alliance members and stakeholders.

 

Dawn is humbled to be serving and supporting the Food Rescue sector, which is vital to so many communities in need, and a game-changer for our country. For more about Dawn and her career and role with AFRA read here:

dawn@afra.org.nz
021 275 2243

Iain Lees-Galloway

Executive Director – Partnerships

Iain’s background is in national and local politics, government policy, and engaging with community organisations and the social enterprise sector.  A former Government Minister and Labour Party Member of Parliament, Iain has recently come to AFRA from the Nurses’ Union where he held the positions of Lead Organiser and then Associate Industrial Services Manager.

Iain is passionate about empowering people through collective action. Motivated by building strong, agile, resilient organisations that are great places to work and deliver awesome outcomes for all of our stakeholders.

As Engagement & Partnerships Lead, Iain plays a critical role in supporting food rescue organisations, particularly through policy, research, insights and evaluation. Iain is particularly involved in engagement with government, cross-collaboration within the sector, key stakeholders and research relevant to food rescue. In doing so, Iain promotes, and advocates for, the value of food rescue organisations, in reducing food waste and increasing food security.

iain@afra.org.nz
021 242 0814

Quinn Moffat

Data Lead (starting January 2024)

Quinn brings a unique blend of skills, combining market research, product management, and technology/coding expertise to AFRA. Currently residing near Kaikohe in the Far North, Quinn recently relocated from Auckland.

Matt Dagger

Activation Lead

After ten years working for Kaibosh Food Rescue in Wellington, Matt Dagger joined the AFRA team as Activation Lead in July 2023.  Matt has a depth of experience in the food rescue sector and has worked with many of our members in different capacities over the years.

He has a strong belief in the value of the food rescue sector and in taking a genuinely collaborative approach across the membership to see the greatest outcomes for all.  

Matt’s role is to support food rescue organisations, particularly through best practice and capacity building. Matt comes with a depth of knowledge of operational delivery, resource acquisition, financial planning, compliance requirements and strategic and business planning.

Matt is the key AFRA contact for our alliance members.

matt@afra.org.nz
021 064 9354

Rohan Reid

Communications Lead

Rohan is an experienced communications professional and joins AFRA after seven years at NZ accounting software platform, Xero. She is also a trained journalist and has worked in public relations roles, in Aotearoa, Australia and the UK, across a breadth of industries. She is now proud to be part of such an important sector. 

Rohan’s role is critical in engaging and empowering our food rescue membership, telling our stories, and nurturing our communications with our key relationships, from central and local government to corporate partners and charities.  

rohan@afra.org.nz
020 422 0066

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