Abstract
The Department of Human Nutrition (at the University of Otago has conducted an annual Food Cost Survey since the 1970s. The survey is based on a basket of food designed to meet dietary needs of different age and gender groups across four cities in New Zealand, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Food insecurity is a serious issue facing many New Zealand households. Household food insecurity occurs when a household has inadequate access to nutritionally adequate and safe foods or a limited ability to source foods in a socially acceptable way (1). In 2021/22 the New Zealand Health Survey found that 1 in 8 children were living in a household where food runs out ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ (2). There are many factors contributing to food insecurity, including; living and accommodation costs, income, access, resources and the affordability of food.
The purpose of this report is to show the minimum cost to feed New Zealanders of different age and gender groups across four cities. This is the minimum amount amount of money needed to be spent on a week-to-week basis as well as to estimate of the cost to feed a reference household of four. This information can provide information on shifts in food costs over time and changes in the affordability of food (if income and other household costs are taken into consideration). Other organisations have used the results to consider the affordability of food with different income scenarios (3).
Most families or individuals will meet their nutritional needs when spending the amount of money specified as the basic costs (Table 1). However, spending less than this amount increases the risk of not getting all the necessary nutrients. To meet food guidelines and nutrient intake recommendations spending only the basic amount would take careful planning.
Many people will not lack energy or nutrients when spending less on food if they make careful management choices. However, the chance of consuming an inadequate diet increases as the amount spent to purchase food falls below the basic costs.