Meet the Need feeds families who are doing it tough.
With the winter months coming up fast, Meet the Need is reaching out for assistance from the public.
Meet the Need’s vision is that no one should go hungry or undernourished in New Zealand.
For six years, this farmer-founded and led registered charity has been providing struggling New Zealanders with high-quality, nutritious protein.
Meet the Need general manager Zellara Holden said: “Our country processes more than 26 million animals each year, providing billions of meals to people around the world.
“Yet, within our borders, many families are unable to afford mince and milk.
“We believe that every New Zealander should enjoy the benefits of the quality produce we are so proud to share with the world.”
During the past 12 months, there has been a significant drop in donations, as demand continues to rise.
Meet the Need board chair Nick Fisher said the situation had reached a critical point.
“For years, farming families have been the quiet backbone connecting rural and urban New Zealand, donating livestock that helps put milk and mince on the tables of families doing it tough.
“But right now, there are children who haven’t had mince for months. Families are stretching tins and toast, going without the protein many of us take for granted.”
While farmer support remains vital, Meet the Need is now urgently calling on all New Zealanders to get behind the cause, particularly through financial donations.
“Meet the Need was started in early 2020, and was the vision of Wayne Langford and Siobhan O’Malley,” Holden said.
“With the help of our founding partner, Silver Fern Farms, the first mince packs went out in June 2020 to foodbanks in the Canterbury region.”
Since then, Meet the Need has worked with milk suppliers to provide powdered milk, an important source of protein and calcium for children and the elderly.
Fonterra came on board in June 2022, which opened up milk donations from farmers nationwide.
Holden said mince and powdered milk were the most useful and economic ways to provide food.
“Mince is a versatile meat that can be bulked out to provide nutritious family meals.
“Using powdered milk removes the complications of handling a product with a short shelf life that requires refrigeration.”
Meet the Need is governed by a volunteer board, run by a management team and has a team of volunteer champions who promote the organisation and liaise with farmers and donors.
“At Meet The Need, we partner with companies, farmers and community organisations to provide essential food to New Zealand families in need.
“We receive grants from various sources, and we have a tier of sponsors,” Holden said.
“We are very grateful to all of these for the support, as every donation counts in making a difference.”
For Fonterra or Synlait dairy farmers wishing to donate, all you need to do is fill out a form and Meet the Need takes care of the rest.
You can donate livestock virtually or directly through the partnered suppliers: Silver Fern Farms, Alliance and FreshPorkNZ.
Other ways to donate include cash donations through Meet the Need’s website, Givealittle, payroll giving, bequests in a will, contributing your Farm Source rewards, and Cinta insights.
Holden said Meet the Need is always open to discussing other ways to support their work and can be contacted by calling 0800 632 884.
“Anyone can donate to us, and a donation of any amount is welcomed as it all helps supports families doing it tough.”
Meet the Need connects quality nutritious protein grown by New Zealand farming communities to those who need a helping hand.
Four million mince and milk meals have been delivered since its launch in 2020.
Every pack also represents care, compassion, and community spirit.
“We currently regularly supply over 140 community groups and food banks across New Zealand, and we have more than 150 community groups and food banks on our waiting list.”
In 2025, Meet the Need was proud to welcome award-winning South Waikato dairy farm manager Ben Purua as their inaugural ambassador.
Raised in Pukekohe and shaped by adversity, including time in prison as a teenager, Purua discovered a passion for farming on a prison farm.
That connection to the land sparked a journey of hard work, education, with renewed purpose and redemption.
“I know what it’s like to go without,” Purua said.
“Being able to give back through farming, to use what we grow to feed those doing it tough, is powerful.
“Meet the Need is real, it’s authentic, and it’s led by farmers.
“I’m proud to stand with them and help carry the kaupapa forward.”
For more information, visit meettheneed.org.nz