Archive
Tag Archives: Blog
14 Nov 25 |
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Annual Review 2025: More Fresh Kai, More Community Impact
The numbers are in – together we’ve set a new Kaibosh record From July 2024 to June 2025, our teams across Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kāpiti-Horowhenua distributed 900,521 kilograms of food to local communities. That’s the equivalent of more than 2 million meals worth of kai shared, while also preventing 2,386 tonnes CO2e of greenhouse gas emissions that would have been released if this food had gone to waste in landfill. What makes us proudest? More fresh whole foods rescued than ever before! 77% of all food distributed for people this year was fresh and nutritious, including: 🥬 57% fresh vegetables and fruit 🥛 13% eggs and dairy 🍖 7% meat This is a 10% increase in rescued fruit and vegetables compared with last year, meaning more people in our communities had access to the kind of fresh kai that supports their health and wellbeing.
Continue Reading16 Oct 25 |
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How Kai Connects and Sustains Our Communities
October is World Food Day month — a time to reflect on how the way we grow, share and consume food shapes our communities and our future. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” resonates deeply with our mahi at Kaibosh, where food is more than just sustenance — it’s the foundation for connection, wellbeing, and resilience. As part of a student internship with Kaibosh, Holly Watson has explored the challenges of food insecurity in Aotearoa and how community-led action, partnerships, and care are helping build stronger, more sustainable food systems. In her story, Holly shares what she learned — and the people she met — through her time with Kaibosh. Hand in hand Kaibosh and partners are building food resilience across Wellington What we put on our plates every day does much more than simply fill our puku – kai is the fuel that keeps our bodies running, our immune system pumping and helps heal us when we aren’t at our best. Eating a healthy mix of foods can protect us from things like heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. But here’s something many people don’t realise: food isn’t just about physical health. The nutrients we eat also play a major role in our mental wellbeing, nourishing our brain by improving our focus, memory, and other cognitive functions, as well as protecting it. However, for many whānau, this vital necessity of kai is getting harder to access and afford, and the industrial food system has inadvertently created a disconnect between the food, land and the people.
Continue Reading25 Sep 25 |
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Food Waste Is Heating Up the Planet
Every crate of food we rescue for people in our communities is a win for people and the planet. We know food waste is a problem in our warming world – but just how big a problem? The global Food Waste Index Report 2024 compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) found that a fifth of food at consumer/retail stage is wasted – and globally this adds up to over a billion tonnes! This is in addition to 13 per cent of food loss that the FAO estimates between farm/production and retail. Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand households waste about 80 kilograms of good food every year, which adds up to tossing out around $1,364 worth of good kai. (Take a look at which foods are the most wasted.)
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01 Aug 25 |
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We Love Mac ‘n’ Cheese pop-up at Welly On A Plate
A celebration of comfort food that cares for community We’re bringing a community feast with a purpose to Visa Wellington On a Plate as a finale event for the month-long food festival. Teaming up with our friends at Everybody Eats, we’re aiming to serve up 2,000 bowls of mac ‘n’ cheese in one big day of comfort food and feel-good fundraising. We Love Mac ‘n’ Cheese is a pop-up event for all on 31 August, the final day of winter. It’s about bringing people together through good food, shared tables, and aroha in action. The event is a joint effort between Everybody Eats, Wellington’s pay-what-you-can community restaurant, and Kaibosh, Aotearoa’s first food rescue charity. All proceeds will be split evenly between our two charities, to help us both reduce food waste and nourish people across the region.
Continue Reading31 Jul 25 |
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Buns, burgers & brains: a juicy Petone collab
Abandoned Taproom Petone X Kaibosh Lower Hutt friends — this one’s for you! We’ve teamed up with our mates at Abandoned Taproom Petone for a Burger Wellington collab between 4-24 August that’s stacked with flavour and purpose. And, if you love quiz nights come along to Buns & Brains: Quiz Night for Kaibosh on 14 August!
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19 Jun 25 |
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Kai, climate and community – the kōrero continues
We had big plans for May 1st — a shared meal and conversation about kai, climate, community in Pōneke to launch the 2025 Kaibosh Annual Appeal. “Kai for our people, our climate, our future” was an event designed for connection, kai and kōrero, featuring a seasonal three-course dinner by Everybody Eats and important conversation led by three amazing speakers: food systems expert Emily King, kai sovereignty and climate justice advocate Moko Morris, and economist Dr Ganesh Ahirao. But the climate had other ideas.As a red-alert storm blew through Te Whanganui-a-Tara with gale-force winds and 11m waves, we made the call to cancel the event for everyone’s safety. Still, this kaupapa matters too much to not share with our network. So, we’re bringing the kōrero to you here — online — by sharing our speakers’ reflections and insights on the intersection of kai, climate, community and what shifts are needed in Aotearoa.
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24 Apr 25 |
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Banana Box Artivism
Banana Boxes to the Rescue At Kaibosh, we’re used to thinking outside the (banana) box. As demand for food support rises and traditional funding sources remain uncertain, we need more than just good systems —we need creative energy, strong partnerships and more people chipping in to help our food rescue mission. That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with Urban Dream Brokerage (UDB) and The Wellington Company this May to bring our mahi into the public eye in a new way with a pop-up at 126 Lambton Quary during our Annual Appeal. In a busy world where so many good causes are calling out for attention, we’re trying something a bit different to help people understand the scale—and the pressures—of food rescue. Our team at Kaibosh doesn’t just wait for food to come to us. We’re piloting solutions like Second Harvest, building relationships with growers, and running our own food rescue kitchens that transform even more rescued food into hearty kai for those in need. Every step is designed to meet growing demand with dignity, care, and community at the centre.
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15 Apr 25 |
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Comfy Concert fundraiser for Kaibosh
The Chamber Pot Pourri performance for Kaibosh The Long Hall, Roseneath, Saturday 3 May, 5-6:30pm 🎵 Join us for an afternoon of beautiful music and community spirit! 🎵
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02 Apr 25 |
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Fundraising dinner 1st May with Emily King
“Kai for our people, our climate, our future” Special dinner event with guest speakers, fundraising for Kaibosh’s Annual Appeal. Join Emily King, Moko Morris, Dr Ganesh Ahirao in conversation with Kaibosh about our food system – all while we share a delicious seasonal meal together. Thursday 1 May, 6 – 9 pm Level 1/ 60 Dixon Street, Pōneke $80 per person / $420 table for six Tickets at Humanitix
Continue Reading02 Apr 25 |
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Zero food poverty – blog
Zero food poverty – will we ever get there? You may have heard our vision statement at Kaibosh: Zero Food Poverty, Zero Food Waste. Sixteen and a half years ago, as Aotearoa’s first dedicated food rescue charity, we set this vision to guide our mahi. A question we often hear is: Are we there yet? The short answer is no. But the bigger question is: Why do we have food poverty in Aotearoa? And to begin answering that, we need to look at some complex, systemic factors that contribute to food poverty. What is food poverty? Food poverty means being unable to access enough nutritious food due to financial hardship. This could mean not being able to afford fresh kai or lacking transport to reach food retailers. The term food insecurity is sometimes used interchangeably, though it can also refer to shorter-term disruptions in food access—such as after a flood or other crisis. The evidence is clear. Food poverty is a very real problem for many in Aotearoa.
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