In New Zealand, A startling increase in parents skipping meals to ensure their children have enough to eat has been revealed as the cost-of-living crisis worsens, according to recent findings.
The latest annual Barnardos and Aldi Ireland Food Insecurity Research indicates a distressing trend, with 41 percent of parents admitting to skipping meals or reducing portion sizes to feed their children. This marks a concerning 12 percent surge since last year.
Other key findings include a significant rise in parents resorting to borrowing money to feed their children, with 24 percent reporting having to borrow money for this purpose in the past year, up from 16 percent in October 2022 and 11 percent in January 2022. Additionally, 21 percent of families have had to cut back on children’s activities to afford food.
A spokesperson for the report voiced deep concern over the escalating insecurity faced by families with children, emphasizing that a growing number of parents are sacrificing their own meals and cutting down on essentials such as clothing, electricity, and heating to ensure their children have enough food. Many are also turning to borrowing money or food banks to provide for their families.
As families across New Zealand confront the harsh realities of food insecurity and financial instability, urgent action is needed to address the root causes of this crisis. Structural changes, increased support for struggling families, and efforts to reduce living expenses are essential to ensure that no child goes hungry in our communities.
Barnardos has urgently called on the government to address this crisis by implementing a hot school meals program in schools, extending it to secondary schools, and providing meals beyond term time.
As families continue to grapple with the impacts of rising living costs, swift action must be taken to alleviate the strain on vulnerable households and ensure that no child goes hungry.
Consumers are struggling to buy their essential food due to skyrocketed price globally
A recently released report by World Vision has shed light on a startling surge in the prices of common food items in New Zealand, experiencing an unprecedented increase of over 50% in the past year. The rise, affecting staples like rice, bananas, chicken, tomatoes, eggs, and oil, defies the global trend of decreasing food prices.
According to the report, the cost of a basket containing these basic items skyrocketed by 56% locally, reaching an average of $78.32, compared to $50.16 in the previous year. This increase aligns New Zealand with some of the world’s poorest countries, with similar spikes observed in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Honduras.
The research, which surveyed 67 countries, revealed a 29% drop in food prices in Australia, while Sudan and Ethiopia witnessed spikes of 61% and 43%, respectively. Notably, nine out of the top ten countries experiencing the highest food prices were in sub-Saharan Africa, grappling with violent conflicts, climate extremes, and displacement.
World Vision’s head of advocacy and justice, Rebekah Armstrong, attributed New Zealand’s situation to the impact of climate change on food supply and import costs. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive food strategy addressing climate resiliency in food systems, particularly in the face of increasing climate-related events.
The report also pointed to long-standing issues, including a lack of competition in the supermarket sector, contributing to the steep rise in food prices. Despite the inflation, the number of hours New Zealanders worked to pay for a food basket remained relatively low, with an average citizen working three hours for common food items.
World Vision New Zealand’s national director, Grant Bayldon, highlighted the stark contrast between New Zealand and poorer countries where families struggle to afford daily meals. The report underscored the global food crisis, leaving 35 million people worldwide facing emergency hunger conditions. Economic turmoil from Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, climate change, and other conflicts compound the struggles of vulnerable populations.
Bayldon concluded, “The effects of hunger last a lifetime and can mean children do not grow and develop properly, miss out on school, or forgo an education altogether to help their families earn enough to eat. It’s a bitter cycle that cripples the prospects of millions of children.” The report emphasizes the urgency of addressing the global food crisis and ensuring access to basic nutritional needs for all.