A groundbreaking study from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland (UoA), has shone a light on a pressing issue affecting New Zealand's tertiary education landscape: food insecurity among university students. Published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the research reveals that 45 percent of surveyed students lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. This figure underscores the hidden struggles many face amid rising living costs, study demands, and limited incomes, marking the first comprehensive data on this topic in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Conducted between July and November 2024, the cross-sectional online survey gathered responses from 347 students across all faculties and years of study. Using the validated 10-item US Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module (USDA FSSM), researchers dichotomized responses into food secure (scores 0-2) and food insecure (scores 3-10). The findings highlight not just prevalence but also key determinants, barriers, and coping mechanisms, painting a picture of widespread compromise on basic needs.

Unpacking the Prevalence and Scale of the Problem

The 45 percent food insecurity rate at UoA aligns closely with global averages for university students, around 42 percent, but stands out starkly against New Zealand's image as a high-income nation with abundant food resources. Among respondents, with a mean age of 22.1 years and 78 percent female, food insecurity manifested through worries about running out of food, inability to afford balanced meals, reduced meal sizes, hunger not otherwise explained, and in severe cases, weight loss or going a whole day without eating.

While this study focuses on UoA, anecdotal evidence from other institutions points to a national trend. At Auckland University of Technology (AUT), food bank usage surged from about 100 students in 2020 to over 1,800 last year, representing roughly three-quarters of some student cohorts. Similarly, the University of Otago launched three pātaka kai (food pantries) on campus in 2025 to address rising demand. These indicators suggest food insecurity permeates New Zealand's eight universities, exacerbated by a cost-of-living crisis that has seen food inflation hit 4.5 percent by February 2026.

Key Risk Factors: Who Is Most Affected?

Multivariable logistic regression identified two primary predictors of food insecurity. First, living arrangements: students in off-campus rentals were 3.46 times more likely, and those in on-campus accommodation 3.14 times more likely, to be food insecure compared to those living with parents or family. This reflects the 'safety net' of home environments, where food is more readily available and financially buffered.

Second, perceived financial security proved even more potent, with 'borderline' finances carrying a 5.98 odds ratio and 'not at all secure' a staggering 21.38 compared to 'secure'. Food-insecure students reported lower weekly household incomes (57 percent under NZ$500), less parental support (only 36 percent received it versus 64 percent of secure students), and higher employment reliance. Surprisingly, factors like age, ethnicity, employment status, and academic load did not significantly predict insecurity after adjustment.

• Living independently: Away from family home triples risk due to higher rents and meal prep challenges.
• Financial strain: Low income, no family aid, and part-time work pressures amplify vulnerability.
• Demographic notes: Underrepresentation of Pacific students in sample; international students may face added visa/work limits.

Barriers to Food Security: Cost and Time Dominate

Food-insecure students overwhelmingly cited the cost of food as a barrier (80 percent often or almost always), far outpacing food-secure peers (28 percent). Lack of time to prepare meals (42 percent) and shop (31 percent) ranked next, tied to juggling studies, jobs, and commutes. These constraints lead to suboptimal choices, like skipping nutritious options for cheaper, less healthy alternatives.

In New Zealand's context, where grocery prices have risen amid supply chain issues and inflation, university students—often on allowances like the NZ$303 weekly student loan living cost component—face a perfect storm. Regional disparities compound this: urban campuses like UoA in Auckland, with high rents (average NZ$600/week for shares), intensify pressures compared to more affordable areas.

Coping Strategies: Survival Tactics and Their Limits

To navigate insecurity, students turned to practical but potentially unhealthy strategies. Purchasing cheap or discounted food was most common (67 percent often/almost always), followed by saving food for later (55 percent) and reducing portion sizes. Less frequent were foraging (22 percent), dumpster diving (7 percent), or using food relief (19 percent ever).

While resourceful, these can compromise nutrition, leading to cycles of fatigue and poor concentration. Awareness of university supports was low (23 percent knew of them), with only half of aware students utilizing options like pantries or vouchers. Food-insecure students showed greater interest in budgeting (48 percent) and cheap healthy cooking tips (52 percent), signaling demand for education-focused interventions.

• Cheap/discounted buys: Quick fix but nutrient-poor.
• Portion saving/reduction: Risks hunger pangs during study peaks.
• Formal aid: Underused due to stigma or poor promotion.

Academic and Health Impacts: Beyond Empty Plates

International evidence, referenced in the UoA study, links student food insecurity to lower grade point averages, higher dropout risks, and mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. In New Zealand, parallel school-level research shows hungry teens lag peers by up to four years in maths, reading, and science—effects likely mirroring tertiary settings where cognitive demands are intense.

Nutritionally, coping via cheap foods heightens obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and long-term issues like diabetes—pressing in NZ with Māori and Pacific students overrepresented in vulnerability. Mentally, the stress of rationing erodes focus, with 45 percent insecurity signaling a wellbeing crisis amid post-COVID recovery.Read the full UoA study here.

Campus Responses Across New Zealand Universities

New Zealand universities are responding with targeted initiatives. UoA offers hardship funds, food vouchers, and pantries, though uptake lags. Otago's 2025 pātaka kai rollout provides no-questions-asked access to staples. AUT's food bank serves thousands, tripling since 2020 amid enrollment growth (UoA up 9 percent).

Broader efforts include student unions partnering with supermarkets for discounts and government-backed Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunches extending principles to unis via pilots. Massey and Victoria Universities host community gardens, teaching budgeting alongside sustainability. Yet, as Prof. Cliona Ni Mhurchu notes, "multi-level solutions" are needed—from policy to stigma-free promotion.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Voices from Researchers and Students

Lead researcher Dr. Berit Follong emphasizes timeliness: "Many students juggle high living costs, limited income, and study demands—food is where they compromise." She highlights home living as a buffer, urging supports for independent students. Co-author Prof. Ni Mhurchu calls for redesigned communication: "Better reflect students’ realities with financial policies addressing cost pressures."

Student associations echo this, reporting pantry lines lengthening with international enrolments (capped but resilient). Policymakers reference the study in budgets, eyeing student allowance hikes. Māori health experts link higher rates to colonization legacies, advocating culturally safe kai provisions.

Pathways Forward: Actionable Solutions and Policy Shifts

Addressing root causes demands layered approaches:

• Financial aids: Index student loans to inflation; expand bursaries for at-risk groups.
• Campus infrastructure: 24/7 pantries, subsidized meal swipes, bulk-buy hubs.
• Education: Workshops on meal prep, apps for deals; integrate budgeting into orientation.
• Partnerships: Uni-supermarket ties, community gardens; track via annual surveys.

Universities NZ advocates national guidelines, while experts push stigma reduction via peer-led campaigns. Pilots like UoA's co-designed pantries show promise, with 51 percent uptake among aware students signaling scalability.Scimex coverage of the study.

Future Outlook: Towards Nourished Campuses

With enrolments rising and costs volatile, food insecurity risks entrenching inequities unless addressed. The UoA study calls for replication at other unis to map national scope, informing Tertiary Education Commission funding. Positive signs include growing awareness—post-study media buzz spurred pantry donations—and policy momentum, like 2026 budget hardship boosts.

Ultimately, ensuring no student chooses between textbooks and tūī (NZ$10 meals) fosters equitable higher education. As Dr. Follong states, identifying at-risk groups via living/finance screens enables proactive support, paving the way for thriving graduates.

Stakeholders agree: nourished students perform better, innovate more, and contribute robustly to Aotearoa's future.

Photo by Margaret Giatras on Unsplash