As Government Funding Hangs in the Balance, Report Reveals Food Rescue Delivers Meals for Pennies
New Zealand’s food rescue organizations are facing an uncertain future, with crucial government funding set to expire in June, but a closer look at their operations reveals an extraordinary level of financial efficiency that advocates say is unmatched in the social sector.
The Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA) and the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN), key players in the nation’s fight against food waste and insecurity, are making a compelling case for continued support, demonstrating how they stretch every dollar to deliver maximum impact. The current funding, a $10 million annual allocation from the Ministry of Social Development’s Food Secure Communities Programme, is a lifeline for nearly 40 frontline organizations across the country, including well-known names like KiwiHarvest and Kaibosh, plus dozens of smaller, community-based initiatives.
The numbers speak for themselves. Gavin Findlay, Chief Executive of NZFN, revealed that his organization delivers meal equivalents – a standardized measure of 450 grams of food – at an astonishing rate of “under 40 cents per meal.” Smaller, localized food rescue operations, often members of AFRA, achieve a cost of “less than a dollar per meal.”
This efficiency dwarfs other government-funded food support programs. The Ka Ora Ka Ako school lunch programme, for instance, is striving to bring costs down to $3-$4 per meal, while food purchased through special needs grants averages around $3.50 per meal.
“We contend that both as an organisation ourself and as a sector provide very, very good value to government,” Findlay stated. “The distribution of much-needed kai into the community [is done] at a rate that’s unsurpassed in any of the other food provision programmes that they have.”
But the financial benefits extend beyond just the cost per meal. Iain Lees-Galloway, General Manager of AFRA, highlighted a staggering return on investment. “Our members last year moved over $70 million worth of food,” he said, referring to the impact of the $10 million in government funding. That’s a sevenfold return, simply in terms of the monetary value of the food redistributed.
A robust, peer-reviewed university study published in an academic journal takes the analysis even further. It found that for every dollar invested in food rescue, a remarkable $4.50 is returned in social benefits. This includes factors like reduced landfill costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improved community well-being.
Moreover, government funding acts as a catalyst. “A lot of potential funders look at whether or not an organisation is funded by the government,” Lees-Galloway explained. “They see it as something of a quality marker.” This means the initial government investment helps attract additional funding from philanthropic organizations and corporate donors, amplifying the overall impact.
The funding, initially established during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, is set to end in June 2025. A bid for renewed funding is currently under consideration as part of the government’s budget process. The sector’s fate will likely be revealed on Budget Day in May.
With demand for food assistance showing no signs of decreasing, and the environmental benefits of preventing food waste becoming increasingly critical, advocates argue that supporting food rescue is not just a compassionate choice, but a fiscally responsible one. The question remains whether the government will recognize this exceptional value for money and continue to invest in a sector that delivers so much, for so little. Minister of Social Development, Louise Upson, has given no indication that the funding will be continued.