Food rescue charity Kiwiharvest aims to further expand its rescue network in Wānaka in 2025.

The organisation’s Queenstown Lakes base may be over the hill in Queenstown but it has also been redistributing excess food in Wānaka for almost four years.

KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough said Kiwiharvest collects from New World Three Parks, New World Wānaka and Woolworths Metro twice each week.

The food is dropped off to Food for Love, Community LINK Food bank and Kahu Youth, Gary said.

Gary said six “local legends” - Phillipa Jones, Martin Hill, Kit South, Barry South, Craig Sudron and Myra Van Den Begen - had significantly bolstered Kiwiharvest’s local operation.

“They all give up time and use their own vehicles to make collections and drop-offs on a Tuesday and Friday,” he said.

“Since they started our twice weekly collections there in early 2023 they have rescued 15,000 kilos of food from ending up in landfill and that equates to over 34,000 meals worth of food being redistributed to the three charities there for free.” 

Next year Kiwiharvest will be providing the local team with a Kiwiharvest refrigerated truck and an e-bike and trailer to make collections and drop-offs easier.

It is also looking to expand its collection in Wānaka to include cafes.

Kiwiharvest’s mission is to tackle food waste and promote food security throughout New Zealand.

Find ways to get involved here.

PHOTO: KiwiHarvest