Abstract
Since the 1970s the Department of Human Nutrition (previously Home Science Extension with the School of Home Science) at the University of Otago has conducted an annual Food Cost Survey. The Food Cost Survey is based on a basket of food designed to meet dietary needs of adult males and females (19 years and over), adolescents (11 to 18 years), school aged children (10 and 5 years) and preschool children and infants (4 and 1 years). In recent years food costs have been reported for five cities in New Zealand including Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton. Most healthy families or individuals will meet their nutritional needs when spending the amount of money specified as the basic costs. However, spending less than this amount increases the risk of not getting all the necessary nutrients. Many people will not lack energy or nutrients when spending less than this amount on food if they make careful management choices. However, the chances of consuming an inadequate diet increase as the amount spent to purchase food falls below the basic costs.
The foods included in the survey were revised in order to collect the 2014 data. In addition, the methods we use to calculate food costs and the amounts of food allocated to sex and age groups have been updated. This means the 2014 food costs are not directly comparable to previous years. In 2014 food costs for an adult male were: Auckland $68, Wellington $69, Christchurch $71, and Dunedin $67.