New Zealand in top ten most wasteful nations

Statistics published by Waste Management World show New Zealand is the tenth most wasteful developed country.

Foodbanks across the country are seeing extremely high levels of demand, and according to the World Food Organisation our planet is currently in the largest food crisis ever.

With the current inflation situation growing globally due to crises like the Ukrainian war, poverty, homelessness and on-going pressures from Covid-19, food supply is a struggle and people are finding it tough. 

CEO of Foodbank Aotearoa John Milligan says New Zealand is also being affected, even if it may not seem that way.

“Don’t think just because we are beautiful, pure and green, we don’t have this problem. We do."

In New Zealand, one in five kids go to school without breakfast in the morning and go to bed at night without dinner. 

Due to the government's school feeding programme, kids can have lunch throughout the school term, however, when the holidays come around the issue is exasperated. 

Milligan believes these issues are not a wealth-based situation either.

“It can come from homelessness, poverty, addiction, domestic violence, mental health and so on. That’s universal."

He says it goes right across the socio-economic spectrum and seemingly wealthy families may have their food budget impacted by all kinds of situations.

“We tend to think people are in need if they are on the street, but the people in need could be your neighbours or a person walking their dog past your house".

"You don’t know who is and who isn’t hungry.”

Foodbank Aotearoa believes the biggest reason for hunger in New Zealand, aside from the crises and disasters being faced, is food waste.

Milligan says Kiwis waste $800 to $900 worth of good food every single year. For example, between 20 and 30 million loaves of bread are thrown away each year in Aotearoa. 

To put this into perspective, the number of loaves wasted could be lined up in single file from Bluff up to Cape Reinga six times. 

Those at the foodbank believe there is no need for hunger in this country, but food waste is what’s creating the hunger.

“The interesting thing is in New Zealand we either grow, produce, manufacture or import sufficient food to put three nutritious meals on every single person's table every day of the year” Milligan said.

Following reports of other foodbanks and charities in New Zealand running low on supplies and food, Milligan reassures foodbank Aotearoa has sufficient resources. 

He admits their shelves are quite empty and estimates and they are somewhere around nine percent below demand at the moment, but if they need more food, they will get more food.