The Green Party has introduced a Member’s Bill that would require New Zealand’s largest supermarket chains to partner with food rescue organisations, with the aim of ensuring edible surplus food reaches families in need rather than ending up in landfill.
The proposed Waste Minimisation (Food Waste) Amendment Bill seeks to reduce food waste while tackling food insecurity by making food donation a standard part of supermarket operations.
Green Party Zero Waste spokesperson Kahu Carter says the legislation recognises that while Aotearoa produces enough food to feed millions, too many households continue to struggle to put meals on the table.
Tackling Hunger and Food Waste Together
The Bill is modelled on France’s Garot Law, which requires supermarkets to minimise food waste and donate suitable surplus food to charities instead of discarding it.
If passed, New Zealand’s largest supermarkets would be required to take reasonable steps to reduce food waste and work with recognised food rescue organisations to distribute edible food wherever practical.
According to the Green Party, more than 15,000 tonnes of food are wasted within New Zealand’s supermarket supply chain each year, despite ongoing demand from food banks and community organisations.
The party also points to figures showing that one in five children in New Zealand live in households where food regularly runs out.
Supporting Food Rescue Organisations
Food rescue organisations already operate across Aotearoa, collecting surplus food from supermarkets, growers, manufacturers and wholesalers before redistributing it to community groups, food banks, schools and whānau experiencing hardship.
The Green Party says the proposed legislation would strengthen these organisations by making formal partnerships with major supermarkets part of the country’s waste minimisation framework.
The Bill was developed in collaboration with Sunday Blessings, a community organisation that supports people experiencing food insecurity.
Supporters argue that while many supermarkets already donate surplus food voluntarily, introducing legal requirements would create greater consistency across the retail sector and expand the amount of edible food reaching communities.
Environmental Benefits
In addition to addressing food insecurity, the legislation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste.
When food decomposes in landfill, it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change.
Reducing edible food sent to landfill is therefore seen as both a social and environmental measure, helping lower emissions while making better use of resources already produced.
The Green Party says reducing food waste aligns with wider efforts to transition toward a circular economy, where products are reused and redistributed wherever possible rather than discarded.
International Example
France became one of the first countries in the world to introduce legislation requiring larger supermarkets to donate unsold edible food instead of destroying or disposing of it.
The French model has since attracted international attention as governments seek ways to simultaneously reduce food waste, improve food security and lower emissions.
The Green Party believes a similar approach could be successfully adapted for New Zealand, particularly given the existing network of food rescue organisations already operating nationwide.
Debate Likely in Parliament
As a Member’s Bill, the proposed legislation will need to be drawn from Parliament’s Members’ Bill ballot before it can proceed through the legislative process.
If selected, MPs would debate whether mandatory food donation requirements strike the right balance between reducing waste and recognising the operational realities faced by supermarkets.
Supporters say the Bill reflects a practical response to two major challenges—food insecurity and unnecessary waste—while opponents may raise questions about implementation costs, food safety obligations and logistical requirements.
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to affect many New Zealand households, food security remains a prominent political issue ahead of the 2026 General Election.
The Green Party says ensuring edible food reaches whānau rather than landfill represents an opportunity to improve community wellbeing while supporting New Zealand’s environmental goals.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #FoodWaste #FoodRescue #GreenParty #Kai #FoodSecurity #ZeroWaste #CostOfLiving #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Community #SundayBlessings #Aotearoa #NZPolitics
