Funding cuts gutting to food rescuers locally
Queenstown’s KiwiHarvest crew are scrambling to find new premises after government funding allocated to food rescue operations nationally was cut by more than $9 million.
Government staff say funding allocated to food rescue, foodbanks and help agencies from 2020 was “time limited”, part of the Covid response.
However, KiwiHarvest Queenstown branch manager Gary Hough says demand for help is much greater now than during Covid times.
The cuts mean KiwiHarvest can no longer afford its current Glenda Drive site, see story in Community Notes for more.
Hough says the need is greater than it’s ever been. “We have more than 800 people that we’re supporting around the Wakatipu, Wanaka and Cromwell, who are having to depend on charity to eat,” “Everyone is definitely feeling the pinch with mortgage rates, rising food costs, everything.”
“People we help are generally employed, hardworking people – the core of our town, often with families. Many, too embarrassed to even ask for help but seeking it once or twice a week just to get through.”
“They feel shame about registering with Happiness House or the Sallies for food parcels,” says Hough. All charities say their donations are down. The general public are struggling.”
News the government’s cutting its financial support by 87 percent post Covid, is hitting food rescue the hardest and is devastating, says Hough. “Ours is the most cost-efficient method, rescuing food that would otherwise go to landfill and channelling it to those who need it and other help agencies.”
“We’ve been able to provide nearly all 12 charities in Queenstown, Cromwell and Wanaka until now,” he says.
Supermarkets and cafes are extremely supportive donating fresh produce, meat and dairy that’s close to its ‘best before’ date, but they too are working harder to reduce waste. While supermarkets say they’re giving the same amount, help agencies say there seems to be less to go around.
Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance’s Iain Lees-Galloway, a former Labour Cabinet Minister, says the $150m the government’s invested in food organisations since 2021 was fantastic, but members are feeling “a bit abandoned”, after working hard through the Covid crisis.
Food rescue organisations nationwide can’t meet demand. “Now isn’t the time to withdraw that support.”
“Members supply foodbanks, schools, women’s refuges and the likes. The 20,000kgs of food rescued daily translates into 61,437 meals.
That’s food going to people rather than needlessly ending in landfill,” says Lees-Galloway.
“Every dollar invested in food rescue generates $4.50 worth of social return.”
With the government pushing for greater sustainability and climate change it seems illogical to end that vital investment now.
AFRA is calling on all political parties to commit to $12m annually for food rescue. “That, combined with philanthropic funding, would rescue food at a huge saving,” says Lees-Galloway.
The profile of those needing help is changing. “We’re seeing more employed people with mortgages and renters as living costs skyrocket,” he says.
Supermarkets at the same time are reducing waste, which is great, but then there’s less for food rescue, he says. From farms and orchards to supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, there’s a lot of food that can be rescued, as long as organisations have the resources,” says Lees-Galloway. He’s urged Queenstown food retailers with surplus to help KiwiHarvest. “Often it’s product that’s simply mislabelled, or packaged with the wrong weight. It’s not just about shelf life.”
MSD spokeswoman Serena Curtis says over $150 million has been invested in the community food sector since July 2021.
“Government is investing $30.8 million over two years to continue to support access to affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food,” she says. “This includes an additional $6m in June allocated to support the community food providers to transition away from reliance on government funding”. However, welfare help agencies say this doesn’t include food rescue.
Salvation Army Queenstown Community Ministries Director Andrew Wilson says as a welfare organisation they won’t be affected by the same cuts as KiwiHarvest. “But I was gutted. We rely heavily on KiwiHarvest to support 100 clients a week from our food and produce pantry,” he says. “If we don’t have that support it will be a huge knock. We just won’t be able to do it.” Demand is so high.”
Countdown Queenstown store manager Jason McQuoid says while there’s been no change to its giving, Countdown has been focused on reducing food waste recently.
“We had a bit of a drive in-store to beef up our donation trolleys with a great response, one of the best in recent years.”
Foodstuffs spokesperson Emma Wooster says its grocers partner with foodbanks and food rescue organisations. New World’s recent Foodbank Appeal saw record donations with $250,000 distributed to foodbanks.
