Meet the Need is proud to release its 2025/26 Impact Report, revealing both a record year of impact and a sobering picture of the growing demand for food support across Aotearoa.
The past 12 months have seen 1,277,241 nutritious mince and milk meals delivered through a nationwide network of foodbanks, taking the total number of meals provided since the charity was launched in 2020 to more than 4.2 million.
The milestone comes at a time when food insecurity is affecting more New Zealand households than ever before.
Recent figures show one in three households experienced food insecurity over the past year, with 68 percent of those households saying they had only begun struggling to afford enough food within the last 12 months.
Meet the Need General Manager Zellara Holden says the organisation is seeing a significant shift in who is asking for help.
“These aren’t just the families people might traditionally expect to need food support. They’re working families, rural households and people who have never had to ask for help before.”
“The cost of living continues to put enormous pressure on household budgets, and nutritious protein is often one of the first things families stop buying. That’s why the work we do has never been more important.”
Founded on a simple idea of connecting New Zealand’s food producers with families experiencing hardship, Meet the Need works alongside farmers, processors, transport companies, foodbanks, businesses and donors to ensure nutritious beef mince and milk reach those who need them most.
This year alone the organisation:
- Delivered 1,277,241 mince and milk meals
- Supported 148 foodbanks across New Zealand, up from 135 the previous year
- Surpassed 4.2 million meals delivered since 2020
Despite this growth, demand continues to outpace supply.
Foodbanks across the country report increasing numbers of first-time users, longer waitlists and growing demand for nutritious protein.
“The reality is that while we’ve increased our impact, the need has grown even faster,” says Holden.
“Every meal delivered is only possible because of the generosity of New Zealand farmers, our corporate and community partners, volunteers and individual donors. This report is a celebration of what we’ve achieved together, but it’s also a reminder that our work is far from over.”
Meet the Need Chair Nick Fisher says collaboration across the agricultural sector continues to be critical.
“New Zealand grows enough food to feed everyone. The challenge isn’t supply—it’s connection. Meet the Need exists to bridge that gap, ensuring quality New Zealand protein reaches families who otherwise couldn’t afford it.”
The organisation is encouraging more farmers, businesses and everyday New Zealanders to get involved by donating livestock, milk or cash, or by partnering with the charity to help meet growing demand.
“Our mission is simple,” says Holden.
“Together, we can ensure more Kiwi families have access to nutritious protein during some of the hardest times in their lives. With demand continuing to grow, we need more people alongside us to make that happen.”
Read our full impact report HERE.
