A new report is published this month by the Obesity Action Coalition on Food Security for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand.
Two national nutrition surveys conducted in New Zealand (in 1997 and 2002) provide clear evidence that up to 50% of New Zealand’s Pacific adults and children have a burden due to food security issues, more so than
any other ethnic groups. The surveys also show that the more children a family has, independent of
ethnicity, the more likely the family is to experience aspects of deprivation and food insecurity.
Between 1997 and 2002 there was a marked decrease in food security for households with Pacific peoples, as well as for Maori and New Zealand European and other (NZEO). Recent increases in food and fuel costs are likely to worsen the situation.
A number of recommendations are made in the report, including ways to improve opportunities to consume healthy foods.
This report provides a comprehensive account of the challenges faced by Pacific New Zealanders
in their quest for optimal intakes of healthy food.