Money tight and the cupboards nearly bare? From Work and Income grants to a free hot meal every day, here is where University of Auckland students can find food support.
Running short on food is far more common among students than anyone lets on.
There is help, and most of it doesn’t require you to prove you’re in crisis first.
This story covers what you’re entitled to, what’s on campus, and where to go across Auckland.
1. Special Needs Grant (Food)
This is a Work and Income payment to help you buy food. It’s a one-off, and you don’t pay it back.
Over any six months you can get up to:
- $200 if you’re on your own
- $300 for a couple
- $450 with one or two kids
- $550 with three or more
You can ask more than once, up to those totals. In an emergency they can go higher.
On a Student Allowance or Student Loan? Call StudyLink: 0800 88 99 00
Everyone else: Work and Income 0800 559 009
2. Student Emergency Fund
The University’s hardship fund can cover groceries, rent and utility bills. It can’t cover tuition fees, course costs, debt or hall fees.
- You need to be currently enrolled and living in NZ
- You need to have exhausted other options first: StudyLink, Work and Income, savings
- Applications are reviewed every Friday and paid the following Tuesday
Te Papa Manaaki | Campus Care can help you apply. Free and confidential, Old Choral Hall, Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.30pm.
3. Auckland City Mission
A free hot meal, every day
Haeata community dining room, HomeGround, 140 Hobson Street. Open 8am to 11am.
No booking. No ID. Just turn up.
A food parcel, enough for four days
Call 0800 223 663 and they will sort one out with you.
You can also pick up a parcel from Ngā Whare Waatea Marae (31 Calthorp Close, Favona) or Papakura Marae (29 Hunua Road).
4. Mission Grocer
It’s a shop, not a food bank. You pick your own groceries at prices set to be affordable.
HomeGround, 195 Federal Street
Mon-Thu 9.30am-5pm, Fri 9.30am-1.30pm
Whare Kai, the Albert Park cottage
Wed & Thu 11.30am-4pm. Seasonal fruit and veg, $15 bags, and 10% off for students. Free produce bags are available if you’re doing it tough.
That’s a five-minute walk from the UoA student quad.
5. Further Afield
foodbank.co.nz is the easiest way to find one. Free, and no account needed.
It lists foodbanks by region and splits Auckland into Central, North, South, East and West. Central Auckland alone has nine. Tap a name for their phone number.
The site doesn’t hand out parcels itself, and each foodbank sets its own rules, so ring before you go.
Take photo ID and something with your address on it, like a power bill. Some want a Work and Income referral too.
What to Expect
- You won’t be interrogated. Most services ask a few questions to work out what you need and what else might help.
- Take ID if you have it, but don’t let not having it stop you.
- Ring ahead where you can, because stock and hours move around.
- Ask about everything else while you’re there. Most of these places also do budgeting help, power bill support and advocacy.
If you’re not sure where to start, start with us. Email advice@ausa.org.nz or come to the AUSA House (4 Alfred Street) on city campus.