Our Food Network chairwoman Robyn Zink proposed putting part of the Dunedin City Council’s amenity horticulture budget towards local food production during a hearing on its 2026-27 annual plan yesterday.
Ms Zink said the funding would support food production pilots in council parks and reserves and ‘‘community-led food hubs that connect growers, households and local processing’’.
Increasingly, Dunedin relied on food from other regions and countries, leaving the city vulnerable to the impact of geopolitics, shipping disruptions or extreme weather on supply chains.
‘‘Currently, the DCC invests somewhere between $11 [million] and $16m a year on amenity horticulture — that’s mowing, ornamental beds, beautification and non-food planting,’’ Ms Zink said.
‘‘Reallocating even 5% to 10% of the spend will immediately create productive, edible landscapes and more community-led food growing.’’
In response to questions from Cr Marie Laufiso, Ms Zink said an estimated 25% of New Zealanders lived in food-insecure households and the country had the fastest-growing food insecurity issue among OECD countries.
‘‘Growing more food locally adds to the city’s resilience and food security. The current food system’s not working for our community.’’
Ms Zink also asked the council to develop a long-term agricultural strategy as part of the next long-term plan.
