Food saved, habits changed: Every Bite Year 2 by the numbers
We're thrilled to share the incredible impact of our Year 2 Every Bite programme. From Auckland to Wānaka, 608 passionate Kiwis joined our food waste prevention journey. And the results speak for themselves.
Every Bite Launch event at the Kaipātiki Project hub
Who joined our food appreciation movement?
This year's participants reflect the diverse heart of Aotearoa:
88% female participants leading change in their households
61% New Zealand European/Pākehā, 16% Māori (showing the programme's wide appeal)
54% aged 30–55 years (the generation making a difference)
44% families with children, 34% couples (proving every household can make an impact)
Every Bite event with Hauraki Repair and Reuse Centre at The Falls Retreat. Photo: Sarah Heeringa, Better Aotearoa.
Why Kiwis chose Every Bite
Our participants were driven by a shared desire to do better for our planet and their whānau:
52% wanted to minimise food waste at home
22% were motivated by environmental concerns
20% sought financial savings
Plus: building new skills and being part of a growing movement
Because every bite matters — he taonga ā tātou kai katoa.
Left: Kaipātiki Project’s Whatsapp Group was a flurry of progress
The results that inspire us
The transformation has been remarkable. By the end of the 4-week programme:
70% reported being much more aware of food waste as a problem
86% felt more resourceful in reducing waste
92% reported reducing avoidable food waste in their homes
95% said they plan to continue reducing waste
95% said they shared their learnings, creating a ripple effect across Aotearoa
What our participants are saying
“I really enjoyed the programme. I was a bit shocked how much food we wasted and to be more conscious about it made a real difference. My family is on board too which is great.”
EVERY BITE PARTICIPANT FROM WANAKA
“It’s easy to waste food, even with the best of intentions. The Eat Me First cards are a great initiative. I am also much more aware of using food which I previously would have considered ‘inedible’. Lunch today included roasted cauliflower stalks - just a few weeks ago, I would have chopped them out and thrown them away. I’ve frozen all the food scraps (carrot peelings etc) and will use them soon for a stock.”
“Keep this programme going! It has a ripple effect in the community!”
Challenges we overcame together
Even with strong motivation, some barriers emerged. But look at what we achieved:
25% initially struggled with time constraints
22% found it difficult to change habits
14% needed support with meal planning
But 26% reported no barriers at all!
These challenges became opportunities for our community to support each other and find solutions that work for real Kiwi households.
Kaipātiki Project’s Launch Event
What worked best
Our participants loved the practical, community-focused approach:
Practical tips & tricks for storage and creative recipes
Community interaction through WhatsApp groups
Chef demonstrations that inspired kitchen creativity
Professional videos & emails with high engagement
Hub spotlight: Beautification Trust, Auckland
Launch event at Beautification Trust, Auckland
The Beautification Trust showed us the power of community connection by running two cohorts simultaneously:
Lunchtime sessions focused on practical skills like pickling, freezing, and fermenting, led by Sera from Pacific Vision Aotearoa.
Evening sessions featured an interactive cooking showdown with TikTok food influencer twinspeakeatgo.
Both events offered free tickets with a $200 supermarket voucher prize draw — because preventing food waste should be rewarding!
Key insights from this Auckland hub:
In-person sign-ups were most successful — personal connection drives engagement
The programme encouraged wider participation in zero-waste services
Participants praised the fun approach and practical skills like making yogurt and using food scraps for broth
“I am a lot more aware of my waste and I am actively using more of my old food in the pantry. I hope this course is continued, it was fun.”
Join Aotearoa's food appreciation movement
These stories reflect the diverse ways communities across New Zealand are engaging with food waste prevention. From the power of local leadership to the valuable feedback from our participants, we’re so proud of the progress we made together this year.