OUR VISION
OUR PURPOSE
NZFN was set up as one simple solution to two major issues; good food ending up in landfill and the rising rate of food insecurity in New Zealand.
Our Founder, Deborah Manning, ONZM, set up NZFN at the beginning of 2020. Drawing on her 10+ years of experience working in the food rescue sector (also Founder of KiwiHarvest), Deborah saw there was a gap in the food rescue sector.
Thousands of tonnes of good food was still ending up in landfill. It was clear that traditional food rescues did not have the infrastructure to handle these volumes on their own. For this reason, NZFN was set up to collect, sort and redistribute bulk surplus food and get it to where it’s needed most.
With primary funding from the Ministry of Social Development, NZFN is distributing, on average, 600 tonnes of food each month. As a result, equivalent to over 1.7 million meal equivalents being delivered to 64 charitable organisations across the country, including those in some of the most remote and hardest to reach regions.
OUR VALUES
- Care: We care about the communities we work in and the people we work with.
- Collaborate: Our network is built on trust and collaboration. We work together with open, clear and proactive communication.
- Commit: We do what we say we will do. We are resilient and adaptable in finding solutions that create the best possible outcomes.
- Create: We encourage growth and innovation. We work together to challenge the status quo.
How NZFN Works
Donors
With one simple email or call to NZFN, businesses can identify and direct any volume of bulk surplus stock or gifted donations.
NZ Food Network
Food Hubs
*Food Hubs include food rescues, food banks, social services, iwi and other charitable organisations.
Recipients
PRIMARY FUNDING PARTNER
SEED FUNDING PARTNERS
NZFN is a coordinated, nationwide effort, spanning the private, social and government sectors, brought to life through the generous support of a number of passionate and dedicated partners.
New Zealand Food Network is proudly working with Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance, Ministry of Social Development and Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective to help build the capacity and capability of foodbanks, food rescue and community food services and prevent further shocks to food security in New Zealand.
Awards and Achievements
NZFN Governance
Suneil is the Group Chief Financial Officer for Service Foods. He is a Chartered Accountant and board member of Auckland Foundation and KiwiHarvest. Suneil holds the position of Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for New Zealand Food Network, KiwiHarvest and Auckland Foundation. Suneil is also a Committee Member & Treasurer of the Auckland Branch of the Institute of Directors and has been a judge for the Auckland Emerging Director Award since 2019.
Deborah is a dedicated and passionate board member of the New Zealand Food Network. With a background in law and a deep sense of social responsibility, Deborah brings invaluable expertise and a compassionate heart to her role as a key advocate for our mission.
Having started the food rescue KiwiHarvest in New Zealand in 2012, Deborah soon recognised the need for a nationwide distribution network that could connect food producers with social service organisations to provide bulk nutritious food.
In addition to her role as founder of NZFN, Deborah is a trustee and inaugural member of New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 – a coalition of representatives from across New Zealand’s food supply chain who are committed to halving food waste by 2030, and a leading voice in advocacy, strategy and education on food waste issues.
Deborah regularly speaks to groups on food rescue and social entrepreneurship and mentors university students undertaking community consulting programmes.
Deborah was awarded an ONZM in 2024 for services to the community and environment.
Ray is the General Manager for Operations Excellence at DHL Supply Chain and a NZFN Board member. He is married to wife Karen and the father of three.
He has over 25 years’ experience in freight, warehousing, manufacturing and IT in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Germany. Industries include FMCG, building products and engineering services.
An avid touch football and rugby coach, Ray managed programmes to assist families with sports gear as well as support initiatives to encourage Te Reo Maori and Manaakitanga within the business community.
Erica has over 20 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles for market-leading organisations across the FMCG, Infrastructure, Professional Services and the Technology Sectors. Erica is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Cyma Limited, and is a member of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Accountant. She has also held roles as an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer for WSP Limited, and finance and governance leadership roles for Coca-Cola, both here and in the UK.
Erica is passionate about ensuring people are at the heart of everything we do, and feels strongly about the difference NZFN can have in people’s lives, addressing food insecurity within Aotearoa, and ensuring people have access to the necessities required to have a healthy life.
NZFN Management Team
Deborah is the founder of the New Zealand Food Network, an accomplished entrepreneur, and strategic engagement advisor with a passion for creating impactful change.
Deborah’s journey began with a profound desire to address the pressing challenges of food waste and food insecurity and make a positive impact on society. In 2012, from the back of her car, she founded KiwiHarvest which is now New Zealand’s largest food rescue organisation with branches across the country. Seeing the need for a bigger solution to the growing amounts of food waste and food insecurity, she established the New Zealand Food Network to support food hubs across the country and provide a socially positive solution for businesses to provide surplus and short-dated food.
As our Strategic Engagement Advisor, Deborah plays a crucial role in helping establish and maintain relationships with our stakeholders while identifying emerging opportunities and potential challenges in a rapidly changing business environment.
Deborah was awarded an ONZM in 2024 for services to the community and environment.
Gavin, our CEO, joined the New Zealand Food Network from a varied career spanning the travel, aviation, business and logistics sectors.
As a former Officer in the Royal Air Force (based in the UK), Gavin has spent time working with vulnerable communities and individuals across all corners of the globe – an experience which, still today, continues to fuel his passion for making a difference in and for New Zealand’s food insecure communities.
Natalie, an experienced supply chain professional with a background in food and packaging industries, brings expertise in procurement, supplier relationship management, and supply management. Inspired by her mother’s work co-founding a dog shelter in southern China, Natalie is dedicated to community betterment. This personal passion and commitment resonate perfectly with NZFN’s mission of getting the food to where it’s needed most.
Sophie has many years of experience in sales and relationship management across a range of industries. Sophie joins the team with a passion to channel her experience and energies into building relationships that ensure NZFN are top of mind whenever there is any food that can be redirected to where it’s needed most.
Martha joins NZFN after more than 15 years working in marketing and communications for public, private and not-for-profit organisations across the tertiary education, homebuilding and museum sectors. While much of her experience was gained in the United States, she is now proud to call Aotearoa New Zealand home and grateful for the opportunity to put her skills to work for the good of NZFN’s mission of getting food to where it’s needed most. She also considers herself a keen foodie and reasonably skilled home cook and baker. On the weekend, you might find her volunteering at one of our hubs, Fair Food in Avondale, or out and about with her beloved labrador retriever, Otto.
Trevor is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in a number of industries including some of NZ’s largest retailers, Social Services in Housing and Youth Services, Health/Disability, and other NGOs including the school sector and iwi. Having also studied Human Nutrition, Trevor can see that impact of food distribution is vital for equity of wellness and wellbeing for all.
Trevor helps when he can by being on the boards of Recreate NZ, Age Concern Tāmaki Makaurau and Pakuranga and Howick Budgeting Services.
NZFN Staff
Angela has a strong background in administration, having worked as an Office Manager/PA for over 15 years in the UK and NZ. Angela was inspired by NZFN’s goal of helping people and the environment, knowing that this would make her role more than just a job.
Courtney joins the team as Account Manager with a focus on looking after our network of food hubs in the North Island. She has worked across a variety of roles including Account Manager in the online hotel space, Placement Coordinator in the ambulance sector and as a Project Coordinator. Courtney says she loves working with a variety of different people and being able to make a positive difference for others and is also a keen foodie.
Diana joined NZFN as a Logistics coordinator. She is deeply inspired by the companies’ goals & values to help those in need in our communities. These relate to her personal morals, making the job more special and valuable to her.
Diana is extremely passionate about her job and loves what she does as it allows her to work with such a diverse group of people and make a little change in many lives around New Zealand.
Geoff brings more than 20 years of valuable truck driving experience to the table and was doing deliveries for NZFN before taking up the opportunity to become a permanent part of the team. He says it’s a privilege to be able to make a small contribution to those in need of assistance in these hard times.
Hayden comes to NZFN after many years in the hospitality industry with experience marketing for Conference and Events. Hayden is excited to apply and refine his skills, as well as learn from the vast experience within the entirety of New Zealand Food Network. In his free time Hayden likes to stay active and can be found walking or running up and around many of Auckland’s mountains or catching up with friends.
Jana joins NZFN as a Logistics Administrator. Her background is in Supply Chain, having worked in Brazil for over 18 years with a focus on Procurement and Warehouse. Work at NZFN has been very rewarding and inspiring for her, as she believes helping others makes everything worth it.
Prior to commencing with NZ Food Network Kath was working as a heavy machinery operator. She has previously worked at a honey packing factory where she gained experience in warehousing and logistics. With a passion for making a difference to the lives of others, Kath is eager to play a role in putting food on the table for those in need.
Ken, NZFN Lead Hand, brings with him more than 40 years’ experience in warehousing and distribution. Having spent his career working for two family-owned pharmaceutical and cosmetics businesses, he is new to the not-for-profit sector but hopes he can make a difference through his work. He has been happily married for over 30 years, and has two great kids.
After spending 17 years in the insurance industry and finance sector and as well as hospitality , Vim opted for a career change.
“COVID-19 has given me a different insight about the struggles we face and I wanted to make difference in people’s lives. I now have more variety, working in the warehouse and office. It is one of the most satisfying jobs knowing that what we do here helps to put food on the table for so many families around NZ.”
Since starting with NZFN, Vim is now working on our accounts team as Finance Assistant.