Manukau food bank records surge in demand for food parcels
A south Auckland foodbank has seen calls for food parcels triple during the latest lockdown.
Manukau Urban Māori Authority supports Māori living in urban environments, and runs a foodbank at the Ngā Whare Waatea Marae at Calthorp Close in Favona.
Spokesperson Sarah Sparks said staff at its base were dealing with a surge in requests in south Auckland.
“We’ve had triple the number of phone calls to our 0800 number for the foodbank since we went into alert level 3,” she said.
“On average we have an allocation of 40 food parcels a day. But last week that was increased to 70 a day and we were still really stretched.”
A University of Auckland study found Māori and Pacific communities in areas such as south Auckland would be at greater risk from a second wave of Covid-19.
Do you think the government needs to do more to support vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙
Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵
This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!
It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾
📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Loading…
