Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance welcomes Food Waste Amendment Bill to strengthen food rescue and reduce food waste
The Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA) welcomes the Waste Minimisation (Food Waste) Amendment Bill, introduced by the Green Party to Parliament today. The Bill requires large supermarkets to take reasonable steps to minimise food waste, and to partner with food rescue organisations to donate edible surplus food wherever practicable.
Food rescue ensures quality surplus food that can no longer be sold is redirected to communities instead of landfill. AFRA represents around 35 food rescue organisations across Aotearoa, which collectively rescued 12 million kilograms of surplus food over the past year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026), and delivered the equivalent of 31.8 million meals into the community over the same time period.
AFRA’s Executive Director Alice Cameron says food rescue is an essential part of New Zealand’s food infrastructure, connecting quality surplus food with communities through trusted local organisations.
"Food rescue is a proven model that has been making a significant contribution to reducing food waste in Aotearoa for nearly two decades. Since New Zealand’s first formal food rescue organisation Kaibosh, was established 18 years ago, the sector has built strong partnerships with supermarkets, growers, manufacturers and other food businesses right across the motu. Every day, these partnerships ensure good food reaches people instead of landfill, reducing emissions, preventing waste and delivering nutritious food where it’s needed most. This Bill creates an opportunity to build on what is already working."
Cameron says international experience provides valuable lessons for New Zealand.
"Good legislation doesn’t just require more food be donated. It provides the resources, protections and practical support needed for more food to be rescued and distributed to those who need it, well. That means investing in food rescue capacity, maintaining standards and trusted existing relationships and designing an approach that reflects New Zealand’s unique geography and existing food rescue network."
AFRA says any future legislation should prioritise preventing food waste, build on the strong partnerships already in place between supermarkets and food rescue organisations, and ensure the food rescue sector is appropriately resourced to safely manage any increase in donated food.
"We look forward to working constructively with government, supermarkets and the wider food sector to help shape practical, evidence-informed solutions that reduce food waste and strengthen New Zealand’s food system."
