Ministry of Social Development
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) helps New Zealanders to become safe, strong and independent.
MSD’s Food Secure Communities programme supports community food providers who distribute food to people and whānau experiencing food insecurity while also supporting the growth of food secure communities.
Support from the Ministry of Social Development has enabled us to make an even greater difference to communities in need around the country.
MSD Funding has enabled a number of our branches to expand their capability of handling more incoming food supply. It also allowed them to engage with more frontline organisations to deliver high-quality food to communities in need.
Pictured above: Dunedin Driver, Allan Croad, loading up the Food Rescue van. With MSD’s support KiwiHarvest was able to expand operations and services across all our branches to reach more people in need.
During the first Alert Level 4 lockdown, MSD also helped set up our sister organisation, the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) to address rising food insecurity. The NZFN is a national bulk distribution service that collects quality surplus and donated bulk food from producers, growers and wholesalers and distributes it to community organisations around New Zealand.
We chatted with Sonya Cameron, Principal Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development about our partnership.
What made you decide to sponsor KiwiHarvest?
MSD partnered with KiwiHarvest in recognition of the significant role they play in rescuing good quality surplus kai and distributing this to a huge range of community food providers across the motu. Particularly during times of huge pressure on providers like lockdowns, KiwiHarvest has provided a real lifeline that has enabled these organisations to keep up their amazing mahi.
We have really appreciated our partnership with KiwiHarvest and everything you have done, from your on-the-ground support to communities experiencing food insecurity, to the leadership that supports the capability of the overall sector through New Zealand Food Network, and also Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance.