The World Health Organization defines food security as existing when 'All people at all times have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life'.
Food security is built on 4 pillars:
Food availability - sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis.
Food access - having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.
Food use - appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation.
Food stability - stable access to foods at all times, without the risk of running out of food.
Food security exists when there is a reliable supply and people have access to healthy foods that are culturally acceptable, nutritiously adequate, affordable and safe. The definition is also moving towards inclusion of sustainable production methods.
Toi Te Ora Public Health is committed to improving and protecting the health of the communities in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts.
Food insecurity is associated with increased food-related chronic diseases. These diseases (such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers) are affecting individuals lives and putting pressure on our health care system.
Collectively, unhealthy food and excess energy intake account for 11.4% of overall health loss in New Zealand. Toi Te Ora recognises the benefits of investing early in the lifecycle to support healthy behaviours and prevent ill-health.
Also refer to the research section, which shows that food insecurity is a barrier to healthy eating in our region.
Our food and drink choices are shaped by the complex world in which we live.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, and many parts of the world, the food environment — the physical and social surroundings that influence what we eat — makes it far too hard to choose healthy foods, and all too easy to choose unhealthy foods.
Some even call this food environment toxic because of the way it corrodes healthy lifestyles and promotes obesity.
Contact your local public health team if you have any questions about what food security work is being done in your region.
Public Health is committed to working locally with authorities, community groups, organisations, local businesses and local iwi to make healthy food choices the most accessible and easiest choice across our region.
A local food group, network or a food policy council is an organised group of people working collaboratively to build a healthy local food system.
Such a network ideally includes stakeholders from across the food system and representation from a wide range of sectors including government, health and environmental sustainability.
While food policy councils are the formal name, such groups are typically named by the local community and may be known more commonly as food networks, food coalitions or food alliances.
National Public Health Service - Bay of Plenty and Lakes partnered with Healthy Families NZ - Rotorua and Rotorua Lakes Council to build the Kai Rotorua network. The network now has multiple members and has had some successes already, including the establishment of the Rotorua farmers market. As a group, Kai Rotorua plan to work towards:
Contact us to get involved, find out more and join the mailing list.
National Public Health Service - Bay of Plenty and Lakes supports Auckland University research, the Foodback project. Foodback involves the development of a smartphone app for crowdsourcing data on the healthiness of foods advertised and sold in local community setting - such as schools, hospitals, supermarkets, takeaways, sport clubs - and outdoors such as those around schools.
The Issues of Health and Wellbeing 2020 Population Survey aims to increase our understanding of local people's knowledge, attitudes and practices related to a number of public health issues. Key results relating to are found in the full report available following the link.
Population Survey 2020 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
The annual University of Otago Food Cost Survey has been monitoring the cost and affordability of food across New Zealand since the 1970's.
Monitoring the cost of food is important as cost is a significant factor influencing food choice and purchasing.
Food Cost Survey - University of Otago (external link)
Household food insecurity data is available in the New Zealand Health Survey under 'Children (aged 0 to 14 years)'.
New Zealand Health Survey annual data explorer - Ministry of Health (external link)
National Public Health Service - Bay of Plenty and Lakes employs a team of people who support and advocate to local government to develop healthy public policy across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes regions.
One example in relation to where policy change has been achieved as a result of advocacy was in Tauranga City Council’s Vegetation and Tree Management Policy.
Trees and vegetation - Tauranga City Council (external link)
Right across Aotearoa New Zealand people are collaborating to promote healthy food access, create sustainable and fair food systems, supporting local food economies.
For your interest, a few examples are provided below, including links for more information.
Kai Auckland is 'the people's food movement' in Auckland, which is supported by Auckland Council.
Kai Auckland - Facebook (external link)
Commencing in 2016, Kai Rotorua Incorporated Society is supported by National Public Health Service - Bay of Plenty and Lakes, Healthy Families NZ (Rotorua) and Rotorua Lakes Council.
The Regional Kai Network is a collaborative group that is dedicated to shifting the Wellington regional food system to one that centres the health of our communities and environment. This group includes individuals at all levels who are passionate about growing, eating, and sharing kai.
Regional Kai Network (external link)
Christchurch City Council's Edible Christchurch aims to provide leadership, advocacy, guidance and support for communities to grow projects that increase food resilience in Greater Christchurch.
Edible Christchurch (external link)
Our Food Network is based in Dunedin, and it is aim is to stimulate the production, distribution and consumption of local food and in that way contribute to the building of a resilient and prosperous community.
Have you ever thought about growing some of your own kai? It can be a fun, active, and affordable way to feed your whānau, with all the added benefits of healthy produce free of sprays and additives like sugar, fat and salt.
This video and step by step guide shows you how to build your own thriving no-dig vegetable garden, or ‘maara kai’. A maara kai is a great way to live off the land and use traditional self-sufficiency.
The maara kai vegetable garden in the video was built at Toroa Marae (Pupuaruhe) in Whakatāne. Use it as a guide when building your own maara kai at your marae, home, school, workplace, or when contributing to a local community garden.