Are New Zealand’s food environments policies healthy? Are we investing enough to improve population nutrition?
A recent report published by the Public Health Advisory Committee highlights critical issues within New Zealand's food system, emphasising the urgent need for strategic reforms to enhance its contribution to the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.
One of the most pressing concerns is food insecurity. Currently, one in eight New Zealanders experiences hunger due to insufficient access to nutritious food. This issue is particularly acute among Pacific young people, with 36% living in moderately food-insecure households, and among rangatahi Māori, with 25% facing similar conditions.
The negative impact of the current food system on health is also alarming. There is an increasing prevalence of long-term conditions (LTCs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers, driven significantly by dietary factors. Notably, only 6.7% of adults and 4.9% of children in NZ meet the recommended fruit and vegetable intake. Obesity-related health issues alone cost the public health system an estimated $2 billion annually, with the total societal costs ranging from $4 to $9 billion.
New Zealand has the third highest obesity rate among OECD countries, with 32.2% of adults and one in nine children being obese. Obesity drives $2 billion in direct health system costs annually, with type 2 diabetes alone projected to cost $3.5 billion by 2040. The government’s implementation of healthy food policies scored moderately at 43% in 2014 and 48% in 2017, highlighting significant gaps in areas such as mandatory Health Star Rating (HSR) labelling, regulating unhealthy food marketing to children, and implementing a sugary drinks tax. Children were heavily targeted by unhealthy food marketing across various media, with an average of 8.0 unhealthy food ads per hour during peak viewing times.
Further, 36% of Pacific young people, 25% of Māori youth, and 35% of young people in the most deprived communities experience moderate to severe food insecurity. Additionally, only 6% of adults and 4% of children consume the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
In response to these findings, urgent government action is needed to implement legislative, policy, and regulatory changes to create healthier food environments. This includes restricting unhealthy food advertising to children, introducing taxes on unhealthy foods, and mandating clear nutrition labelling. Ensuring that all New Zealanders have secure access to affordable, nutritious food is another critical recommendation, particularly to address disparities in food access for deprived communities. Additionally, a comprehensive programme for data collection, research, and monitoring is necessary to inform ongoing improvements in the food system, helping to track progress and identify areas needing further intervention.