Food Charities Call for Sustainable Government Funding Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
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. “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.
The Salvation Army Territorial Media Officer, 021 945 337, email: media@salvationarmy.org.nz (The Media Officer responds to enquiries from media outlets and journalists. If you would like to donate, are in need of help, or have some other non-media-related enquiry, please call 0800 53 00 00.)