Meals, food and cooking

Who can get help

You may qualify for government support if you need help with day-to-day tasks because you have:

• an ongoing illness
• an injury
• age-related health problems.

Or you:

• are recovering from surgery
• are a disabled person
• do not have family or a caregiver to help you prepare meals
• need a regular meal delivered to you to keep healthy and avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital
• are housebound — unable to leave your house.

You can also arrange your own help, but you’ll need to pay for it yourself.

Who can get home support services — Health New Zealand

Types of help you may get

Government support may include:

• getting Meals on Wheels — a subsidised or free food delivery service
• help from a caregiver to prepare your food, or make sure you have enough food for the day or weekend
• a caregiver taking you grocery shopping or doing your shopping for you
• help to pay for basic food items or the extra costs if you’re on a special diet.

Learn more about the in-home help that’s available, what you may qualify for and how to apply:

• Where to start — when you need home help
• Get a needs assessment.

Meals on Wheels

This service prepares and delivers healthy meals all around New Zealand for people who might otherwise be unable to live independently at home.

If you would like to get Meals on Wheels, talk to your doctor or other health professional. They’ll let you know if you’re eligible and will arrange it for you. Let them know if you have any special dietary needs.

The regular social contact that volunteer drivers have with the people they deliver meals to is an important connection — especially for individuals who are isolated and vulnerable.

Learn about your local Meals on Wheels service on the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website — filter by your location.

Find your local Meals on Wheels service — Citizens Advice Bureau

If you cannot afford to buy food

If you’re on a low income, including a benefit or pension, you may get help to pay for food. Check with Work and Income to see what help you can get.

Food — Work and Income

Help with special food costs

If you get a Disability Allowance from Work and Income, you might get help to pay the extra costs of any special food you need.

Disability Allowance — Work and Income

Services you can arrange yourself

You will need to pay for these services, if charges apply.

Buying groceries online

You can order groceries online or through an app and get them delivered to your home. This way, you can avoid walking around the supermarket and it may save you money. However, you may need to pay a delivery fee on top of the cost of the groceries.

Most supermarkets also offer a ’click and collect’ service:

• you order and pay for your groceries online
• the supermarket takes the items you’ve ordered off the shelves and packs them up for you
• at an agreed time, you collect your groceries from the supermarket, without needing to go into the store. You may not even need to get out of your vehicle
• you might need to pay for the bags your groceries are packed into. Some supermarkets let you bring your own bags.

Is food shopping online better for your budget? — Sorted

Food assistance

Some charities and non-profit organisations provide food assistance. For example, food banks give out food parcels and free community meals are available in some locations.

Find a foodbank — Foodbank.co.nz

SuperGold Card discounts

For people 65 years or older with a SuperGold Card, you can get discounts from all kinds of food businesses. Some supermarkets have a SuperGold Card day where you can get a discount off your groceries. Check with your local supermarket if they give discounts to SuperGold cardholders.

Discover benefits with SuperGold — SuperGold

Nutrition and cooking programmes

Age Concern run nutrition and cooking programmes for older adults in some locations.

Nutrition — Age Concern New Zealand