The Auckland City Mission is warning of a "hunger crisis" after distributing more food parcels than at any time in its century-long history.
Chief executive Chris Farrelly said 15,879 emergency food parcels were given out in the past 12 months, or 43 parcels a day.
That is a 22 per cent increase on the previous year, and the highest number since the city mission was set up in downtown Auckland 98 years ago.
"There is a hunger crisis in our country," Farrelly said.
The parcels distributed by the city mission, which are worth around $65, fed 51,000 people in the past year. It put the trend down to high rents, fuel and energy costs, and debt to loan sharks.