Vinnies hosts food security meeting with government minister

By CathNews New Zealand

June 3rd, 2025

Louise Upston addresses the meeting at a Society of St Vincent de Paul premises in Auckland (Facebook/Vinnies Tāmaki Makaurau)

The Society of St Vincent de Paul in Auckland hosted a meeting of local community food bank representatives and the Minister of Social Development after the Budget.

Louise Upston met Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger collective representatives and leaders from food distribution organisations and NGOs working in the food security area on May 29.

Earlier this year, Auckland community food bank leaders – brought together by Kore Hiakai – crafted and signed a closed letter to the Ministry of Social Development ahead of the Budget. The letter called for evidence-based, multi-year funding for frontline community food organisations.

Foodbanks started to receive direct government funding in 2020 during the pandemic. Over the following four years, more than $200 million was invested in the sector, Radio New Zealand reported. Food security funding was extended with one-off grants to 13 providers last year.

On May 22, the Government announced it would support community-based food banks for a further year as the nation recovers from a cost-of-living crisis.

“The $15 million in support announced today will be managed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the New Zealand Food Network and partner agencies – meaning help for people who continue to need it,” Ms Upston said.

“This will support the work of the Food Network, regional food hubs and community food providers, as they jointly distribute more than 4.5 million meals a month.”

Ms Upston added that it is important for the Government to know whether social investment and community initiatives are working, so the funding includes $100,000 “for MSD to better understand the programme’s impact while wider decisions are made about the future of food security programmes”.

At the May 29 meeting, Ms Upston heard directly from those on the ground about the urgent need for a long-term, strategic approach to food insecurity, a Vinnies Tāmaki Makaurau Facebook post stated.

“Kore Hiakai continues to advocate for a comprehensive food strategy, as all evidence shows the cost of food insecurity is far greater than the investment needed to prevent it,” the post noted.

Ms Upston was thanked for extending the funding for another year.

FULL STORY

FOOD SECURITY- Post Budget meeting: Hon…. – Vinnies Tāmaki Makaurau | Facebook (Facebook/Vinnies Tāmaki Makaurau)

Foodbanks hungry for desperately-needed funding from Budget | RNZ News (Radio New Zealand)

Backing for food banks extended | Beehive.govt.nz (Beehive)

Let connection be our antidote — Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective (Kore Hiakai)