Stakeholder views on the food environment

The problem

Aotearoa New Zealand’s food system, which is critical for health and wellbeing, is currently out of balance. Despite being a nation that produces an abundance of high-quality food, many New Zealanders struggle to access affordable, nutritious food. The food system disproportionately prioritises economic gains, leading to widespread availability of unhealthy, processed foods and contributing to high rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Additionally, food insecurity is a growing issue, particularly among Māori, Pacific peoples, and low-income communities, exacerbating health inequities and environmental degradation.

Our approach

Synergia Ltd was engaged by the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) to lead a series of stakeholder engagements aimed at informing the development of a comprehensive framework to rebalance the food system.

Our approach involved:

Conducting key informant interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders including community groups, government agencies, and industry representatives to gather insights on the challenges and opportunities within the current food system.

Facilitating workshops to discuss the systemic issues and potential solutions, ensuring a focus on equity and the needs of vulnerable populations.

Collaborating with experts in public health, nutrition, and environmental sustainability to integrate their perspectives into the framework, which emphasises the need for a unified and equitable food system that supports health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.

Benefits to the client

The resulting framework provided PHAC with a strategic roadmap to address the imbalances in Aotearoa New Zealand’s food system.

Key benefits included:

Informed decision-making: The framework equips PHAC and other government agencies with the evidence-based insights needed to make informed policy decisions that promote health equity and environmental sustainability.
Stakeholder engagement: The inclusive approach ensured that the voices of all relevant stakeholders, particularly those from marginalised communities, were heard, leading to recommendations that are both practical and culturally appropriate.
Long-term impact: By focusing on systemic change, the framework supports the development of a food system that is resilient, equitable, and capable of meeting the needs of all New Zealanders, thereby improving public health outcomes and reducing environmental impacts.