Fair Food is Making Headlines

Within a month, Fair Food featured in two major news stories.

RNZ Checkpoint joined us to explore the impact rising fuel prices are having on our truck operations and food distribution costs. As diesel prices continue to climb, the cost of getting food to our communities has more than doubled. Despite this, our trucks continue to hit the road every day because the need has never been greater.

Sharafat Salarzai from Noor Foundation shared, families have to make the choice between putting petrol in the car and putting food on the table. 

"They keep saying maybe I'll go talk to the school because I can't drop off my children because I can't afford to put petrol in my car. If I put petrol in, I can't buy the food that we need."

Shortly afterwards, Fair Food was featured on the front page of the Sunday Star-Times where the conversation about food insecurity in New Zealand continued.

General Manager Michelle Blau spoke about the growing demand for food support and the wider issues driving it.

"Every week there are more people needing help than the week before."

With statistics showing 43% of Aucklanders have less than $500 in savings, many households are just one unexpected expense away from needing food support. As winter sets in and the cost of living continues to rise, groceries are often the first part of the household budget to be stretched.

The story also called for a long-term approach to food security in New Zealand. 

"It's time for New Zealand to have a food strategy and treat food as a human right. Hunger should not be a growth industry. People should get their needs met at the supermarket. Nobody working full time should need a food parcel."