Nearly half of Māori surveyed have experienced food insecurity in the past year, according to a major new report revealing the growing pressures facing households across Aotearoa as the country prepares to mark World Food Day on October 16.
The New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) has released its latest Hunger Monitor, providing a confronting picture of the challenges facing families struggling to afford or access enough food.
The research, involving 3,000 respondents nationwide, found that 44% of Māori participants had experienced some form of food insecurity during the previous 12 months, compared with 31% of respondents overall.
Māori made up 15% of the survey sample, with the findings highlighting significant ethnic disparities in access to food.
While the proportion of Māori experiencing food insecurity has declined compared with the previous year, the report shows that Māori households remain disproportionately affected.
Māori Families Facing Greater Food Insecurity
The Hunger Monitor found that 65% of Māori respondents experiencing food insecurity had encountered the problem for the first time during the past 12 months.
The finding suggests that food insecurity is affecting households that may not previously have struggled to put meals on the table.
Food insecurity can include uncertainty about being able to afford groceries, reducing the quality or quantity of meals, or going without food because household resources are insufficient.
For many whānau, these pressures can be compounded by the cost of housing, electricity, transport and other essential living expenses.
The report also highlights the important role of traditional food gathering and community support.
Māori households were more likely than respondents from other ethnic groups to obtain food through fishing, hunting or gathering.
Both Māori and Pacific respondents were also more likely to access food through whānau and community networks.
These findings underline the continuing importance of collective support systems, customary food practices and community connections in helping families meet their everyday needs.
One in Three Households Experiencing Food Insecurity
Across the general survey population, 31% reported experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in the past year.
That represents approximately one in three respondents, demonstrating that difficulties accessing food are not confined to a small section of the population.
The findings raise wider questions about household financial security and the affordability of essential goods.
For families already managing tight budgets, unexpected expenses or changes in employment can make it increasingly difficult to maintain reliable access to nutritious food.
The report also highlights the challenges facing foodbanks, community organisations and other providers supporting people experiencing hardship.
Hunger Taking a Toll on Mental Health
One of the report’s most concerning findings is the relationship between severe food insecurity and mental wellbeing.
More than half, or 54%, of respondents experiencing severe food insecurity rated their mental health as fair or poor.
The result highlights the emotional pressure associated with uncertainty about where the next meal will come from.
Financial stress, anxiety about feeding children and the need to make difficult choices between groceries and other essential expenses can place considerable strain on individuals and households.
Although the survey identifies an association between food insecurity and poorer self-reported mental health, it does not establish that one directly causes the other.
Shame Preventing Families from Seeking Help
The Hunger Monitor also reveals a significant barrier preventing people from accessing food assistance.
Almost half, or 46%, of food-insecure respondents identified shame or embarrassment as a reason for hesitating to seek support.
This suggests that even when food assistance is available, some people may be reluctant to approach community providers or disclose the difficulties they are experiencing.
The findings reinforce the importance of ensuring food support services are accessible, respectful and free from stigma.
For Māori communities, approaches that recognise manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and the dignity of whānau can be particularly important in encouraging people to seek assistance when needed.
World Food Day Puts Hunger in the Spotlight
The report comes ahead of World Food Day on October 16, an international observance focused on food security, nutrition and the need to ensure people have access to sufficient and healthy food.
In Aotearoa, the findings are likely to add to discussions about the cost of living, poverty, household incomes and the role of community food support organisations.
They also raise questions about longer-term solutions, including improving financial security, supporting employment opportunities, strengthening local food systems and reducing barriers to assistance.
For Māori, the findings point to the importance of addressing food insecurity alongside broader economic inequalities while recognising the contribution of whānau networks and traditional food practices.
A Wake-Up Call for Aotearoa
Although the Hunger Monitor records a year-on-year improvement in the proportion of Māori experiencing food insecurity, the latest figures show that substantial challenges remain.
With 44% of Māori respondents affected and 65% of food-insecure Māori respondents reporting their first experience of food insecurity within the past year, the research highlights both the scale of the problem and the vulnerability of households to changing financial circumstances.
The findings also demonstrate that food insecurity is about more than hunger alone. It is connected to financial stability, mental wellbeing, dignity and the ability of families to participate fully in everyday life.
As Aotearoa marks World Food Day, the New Zealand Food Network’s latest Hunger Monitor raises a fundamental question: how can a country that produces food for millions around the world ensure that its own whānau have enough to eat?
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