Ben Purua named Meet the Need’s first ambassador
The 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, Ben Purua has been named farmer-backed charity Meet the Need's first official ambassador.
It says thousands of Kiwi families are struggling to put food on the table. In the public sector alone, job cuts have reached approximately 10,000 since late 2023. Combined with record living costs and rising rents, many families who have never needed help before are now turning to foodbanks to get by.
Meet the Need general manager Zellara Holden says behind the statistics are real people.
“Parents are out there working two jobs but still unable to afford a full grocery shop, or families are forced to choose between putting petrol in the car and putting food on the table.
“We’re seeing a growing number of Kiwis, most who never imagined they’d need help, finding themselves at foodbanks for the first time. That’s why our message is simple – it’s not always who you think.”
Meet the Need connects rural producers with foodbanks and social supermarkets around the country, turning donations of mince and milk into nutritious meals for families who need them most. Every animal donated by a farmer is processed and distributed as premium mince through a national network of foodbanks and community groups. It’s a practical, grassroots way to ensure good Kiwi food stays in Kiwi homes.
But with the cost of living soaring and foodbank demand rising sharply, more donations are needed.
“Foodbanks are under immense pressure right now,” says Holden. “We’ve seen a huge increase in demand as job losses, higher mortgages, and food prices all bite at once. We need more livestock donations from farmers to help us meet that growing need – every animal makes a difference.”
"For the families receiving support, that difference can be lifechanging. One grateful parent said their family had not had meat for months. “We make do with what we can afford and what we get from foodbanks, but we never have meat in our home. Today I fed my family mince pasta bake. It doesn’t seem like much, but to my kids it was a luxury.”
For foodbanks, Meet the Need’s support brings dignity and nourishment to the families they serve.
Holden says Meet the Need is driven by the belief that no parent should have to choose between paying the bills and feeding their kids.
“The generosity of New Zealand’s farmers and growers is helping make that a reality, but we need more people to get behind this movement.”
For those able to donate livestock, milk or simply funds, every contribution goes directly toward feeding families.
“In tough times, communities pull together,” Holden says. “That’s what Kiwis do best. Together, we can make sure every family has food on the table - because hunger in New Zealand doesn’t always look how you expect it to.”
