Support for food waste policy
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
North Canterbury’s food rescue organisation says it backs a call for a food waste policy to be developed in the region.
Satisfy Food Rescue chairperson Phillipa Hunt says food security has become more important in the wake of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.
She was responding to comments from Foodbank Aotearoa New Zealand chief executive John Milligan, who addressed last week’s
Environment Canterbury (ECan) meeting calling for a policy to reduce food waste in Canterbury.
‘‘Food security is so important, particularly when you see natural disasters, droughts and pandemics, so we can be more resilient and it is going to become more of issue in the future,’’ she said.
‘‘Here in the Waimakariri, because we responded to the earthquakes, the systems were in place to respond to the Covid situation, which is where Food Secure North Canterbury was able to be set up fairly quickly.
‘‘I would be interested in seeing a food waste policy developed and we would want to be a part of it.’’
Hunt said when it came to reducing food waste, it was about feeding people first, animals second and then composting.
Going to landfill should only be a last resort, she said.
Milligan said globally the world was facing one of its worst food crises in modern history.
New Zealand was not immune, with Covid, supply chain issues, rising inflation, climate change and Cyclone Gabrielle.
But he said there was enough food available to ensure every New Zealander had three nutritious meals a day, provided distribution
and food waste challenges could be overcome.
‘‘One in five kids will have gone to school this morning without breakfast and many will go to bed without tea,’’ he told the ECan
councillors.
‘‘One-third of all of our food is totally wasted and it is something we need to work very hard at combating.’’
He said Canada and several European countries had passed food wastage laws.
The office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser produced a report on food waste last year, but the government had yet to produce a policy or legislation.
Food waste was a climate change issue, being a major producer of methane gas, with wasted loaves of bread being among the worst offenders.
Milligan said Canterbury was feeling the effects of food shortages arising from Cyclone Gabrielle, with food and support being
redistributed to the North Island.
Families who had left damaged homes and come to stay with whānau in Canterbury were also needing support, he said.
The ECan councillors voted to refer the matter to the Canterbury Joint Waste Committee.
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
Family Friendly Service and Discussion
Note change of time from summer start time.
Next family-friendly monthly service - Sunday, 6 October - at the Ashley Community Church. The gathering will start at 3.30 pm with a shared afternoon tea. Remember to bring something to share!
Also remember to go before you come as there is no toilet on site.
Enquiries to Paul or Lesley, Ph 021 140 2074
39 Canterbury St, Ashley.
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.3% It's fine!
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75.1% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
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