Foodbanks warn of closures if funding not extended

The Salvation Army and the Auckland City Mission are among the organisations that received one-off grants through to mid-2026. They are renewing their call for ongoing government funding as they look ahead to next year.

More than half a million New Zealanders rely on foodbanks and food rescue organisations for support. Salvation Army food security manager Sonya Cameron said her organisation will stay open, but without ongoing government funding, it would have to reduce the amount of food given out from its 60 foodbanks.

Auckland City missioner Helen Robinson said if government funding stopped, some foodbanks would close their doors.

“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,” she said.

The Salvation Army and Auckland City Mission are among food banks and hubs that received one-off government grants this year. That funding was through the Ministry of Social Development’s Food Secure Communities (FSC) programme.

It was renewed after a collective of foodbanks wrote to Social Development Minister Louise Upston asking for ongoing sustainable funding before the May Budget announcement.

Foodbanks started to receive direct government funding in 2020 during the pandemic, and over the following four years more than $200 million was invested in the sector. Since then, it had been on a one-off basis.

MSD’s general manager for Pacific and Community Capability Programmes, Serena Curtis, said: “We have always been clear with the sector that funding for the programme is time-limited”.

She said $100,000 of the additional funding this year was for monitoring and evaluating the programme’s impact.

“This work is underway, and we expect to receive an evaluation report in early 2026,” Ms Curtis said.

FULL STORY

Foodbanks warn of closures if government fails to give ongoing funding (By Amy Williams/Radio New Zealand)