"We are focused on making sure the food we rescue does more than just feed people - providing a hand up, not a handout." - Jennifer, KiwiHarvest Invercargill

In Murihiku, food security doesn’t just hinge on what we grow or sell – it’s also about what we save. Every day, perfectly good food is pushed aside by specs, shapes, dates, and margins.

And every day, families across Southland are quietly doing it tough.

This is where KiwiHarvest Invercargill steps in. Not simply as a food rescue operation, but as a crucial connector in our local food system.

They play a key role in ensuring good food that can’t be sold by food businesses doesn’t end up in landfill but instead helps feed families struggling with food security.

The distinction between a handout and a hand up matters to KiwiHarvest, meaning they never work in isolation.

The food they rescue is distributed through a network of trusted community organisations as part of wrap-around support, helping people stabilise, not just survive.

Supporting those closest to the need

KiwiHarvest currently works with 38 recipient organisations across Murihiku, supplying food either weekly or fortnightly, depending on need.

Those organisations support people in women’s refuge, alternative education settings, foodbanks, marae, and community groups and services such as the Salvation Army.

In some cases, the impact is immediate and measurable including education programmes where attendance improves when young people are fed. In others, it’s about consistency and reducing stress on already stretched households.

KiwiHarvest supports local organisations including Awarua Whānau Services and PIACT

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Mataura is one community benefiting from this kai support. Nicky Coates from ‘The Bunker’ says KiwiHarvest is helping address food poverty for those most in need within the Mataura Community.

“Their vital support has enabled an outreach programme where volunteers cook fresh, healthy meals in our kitchen and share recipes, knowledge, and education on reducing food waste.

The generous assistance we receive from KiwiHarvest truly makes our community a better place.”

The Bunker also provides food parcels for struggling families and offers free meals to individuals attending programmes at the facility, all utilising kai supplied by KiwiHarvest.

And right now, the need is growing.

Jennifer says, “The cost-of-living crisis is driving an increase in demand. Families with both parents working who have never had to reach out for food support before have had to access food parcels for the first time.”

With over 21% of children in Aotearoa living in households where food runs out, food insecurity is no longer a fringe issue. It’s happening next door.

KiwiHarvest Truck. Photo: Supplied

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A year of scale, impact, and momentum

In 2025, to help meet the need, KiwiHarvest Invercargill quietly scaled up its impact in a big way.

A larger refrigerated truck made possible thanks to Rio Tinto funding has allowed the team to collect more food, more efficiently, across the region.

And a new walk-in freezer, thanks to the Hugh Green Foundation, has dramatically improved storage and flexibility, ensuring less food is lost and more is shared.

But the true scale of KiwiHarvest’s work is best understood through the numbers and what they represent for whānau across Murihiku.

In 2025, KiwiHarvest Invercargill say they:

• Rescued and redistributed over 327,000kg of food
• Supplied 705,000 meals into the Southland community
• Delivered food with a retail value of $2,205,000
• Prevented 960,000 kg of CO₂ equivalent emissions from entering the atmosphere

Behind every statistic is a human story fueling KiwiHarvest’s mahi, including one from a solo mum supported through the Murihiku Young Parents Centre, who said:

“It really helps me with my budget, and my son is trying lots of new foods that are healthy for him. It is great to be supported with this food as we all really need it. It has made a huge difference to us.”

KiwiHarvest. Photo: Supplied

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Jennifer says the freshness and quality of the food rescued often comes as a surprise to people.

“Often it is simply out of spec, too big, too small, wrong shape or colour, or is close to its use by or best before, otherwise perfectly good. Fresh fruit and veges are often not affordable to families who are on a tight budget, and we know having access to healthy kai is a game changer for health and nutrition.”

Food rescue and the bigger picture

KiwiHarvest is clear in its role. Food rescue is essential now, but it’s not the end goal.

“Our vision is to play a role in making Aotearoa 100% food secure and achieving zero food waste… until then we will work to rescue the good food that is destined for waste and get it to those families that are struggling with food insecurity.”

Woolworths, one of several local supermarkets donating kai to KiwiHarvest weekly. Photo: Supplied

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How you can help

There are practical ways to support KiwiHarvest Invercargill right now:

• Volunteer: extra hands make a real difference every week
• Businesses can talk with KiwiHarvest about funding or donations
• Donate: for every $5 donated, KiwiHarvest can rescue and distribute enough food to feed a family of four, three meals for a day. https://www.kiwiharvest.org.nz/
• Get involved in the Southland Community Challenge: KiwiHarvest is one of three local charities the Challenge is supporting this year

And at home, there’s a challenge for all of us:

“We can all personally work to reduce our own food waste. The average household throws out over 10% of their annual spend on food.” Jennifer says.

Dwight, the man behind the daily pick-ups and drop offs. Photo: Supplied

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Showing up when it matters most

As we head into 2026, KiwiHarvest Invercargill reminds us that the answers to big, systemic challenges don’t always come from somewhere else.

Often, they are already here, in local relationships, meaningful action, and people quietly showing up for their community every day.

By rescuing good food, supporting whānau, and strengthening the organisations closest to the need, KiwiHarvest is doing far more than diverting waste.

They are helping hold our community together during a time when many are under pressure.

This is food rescue focused on dignity and locally-led climate action.

This is our community, showing up when it matters most.