Food bank demand up 20% driven by ‘astronomical’ costs

Whare Manaaki o te Tai Poutini provides community lunches and dinners for struggling whānau on the West Coast as demand for food banks rises 20%. (Eli Maiava/Supplied)Greymouth woman Eli Maiava (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Poutini Kai Tahu) says the cost of food on the West Coast is astronomical. It offers community lunches and dinners, a community pātaka (pantry) and māra kai (garden) and is one of the New Zealand Food Networks (NZFN) food hubs. NZFN, a food supply and distribution organisation, released a survey this week revealing a 20% increase in demand for food support in the six months to June 2023 compared to the six months to December 2022. Greymouth woman Eli Maiava says food costs are astronomical and her kaupapa Māori community hub is striving to make a difference.