Figures provided to the Otago Daily Times showed that the Otago University Students’ Association issued 680 food parcels in 2025 — more than double what was issued in 2019 (258) and significantly up on the previous year’s 597 parcels issued.
It is even more than the combined total from the 2020-21 Covid-19 years of 518 parcels.
It also issued $26,845 in hardship grants last year, well up on the previous year’s $19,610, but down on the Covid-19 years of $71,510.
Green MP Francisco Hernandez blamed the "explosion" of applications on the government’s "economic carnage".
"While billions of dollars in subsidies and tax breaks are funnelled to this government's mates in the tobacco, fossil fuel and landlord industries — students and other everyday New Zealanders are struggling to get by.
"Students — just like every other New Zealander — deserve to have what they need to thrive."
But the OUSA was reluctant to attribute the spike to one particular factor.
OUSA student support officer Dwaine Tait said to reduce barriers such as stigma or discomfort, it operated a no-questions-asked policy for students accessing its services.
"Therefore, we can only speculate the origin of the hardship."
Over the past few years, they had seen a noticeable increase in foodbank requests, Mr Tait said.
"While there are many contributing factors, the rising cost of living is likely placing greater financial pressure on students, leading to increased demand for support services.
"Ultimately, our goal is to support students in overcoming any challenges that may hinder their ability to succeed in their studies."
Mr Tait said the university was also lucky to have the ongoing partnership with the Bowling Club, which regularly supplied frozen meals to help keep their freezer stocked for students.
University of Otago economics senior lecturer Dr Murat Ungor said students would also be experiencing the same aftershocks of recent global events as any other consumer.
"At the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, oil prices increased dramatically — and Russia and Ukraine were all part of the agricultural exporter countries.
"So prices increased and there was also increase in the energy inputs and other related things.
"So whenever you need to produce a food or agricultural product, you need inputs such as energy ...
"So right now, there is all these geopolitical tensions. So they critically affect supply chain prices and therefore, prices increase."
Closer to home, students were also affected by the lack of competition, he said.
"It's one of the important factors that determine we have high prices, particularly high grocery prices.
"Because without impactful policy intervention, consumers and suppliers will continue to bear the economic cost."
Food suppliers were also constricted because of the supermarket duopoly, he said.
"So if you are a supplier who is supplying goods, you are basically supplying to Foodstuffs and Woolworths."
Dr Ungor said "everyone" had a responsibility to shop smartly and check the price of goods before deciding what to buy.
