Pāmu and Meet the Need Launch Mince Recipe Cards for Food Banks

Alongside the annual donation, a new collection of simple, budget-friendly recipe cards is helping families turn a pack of donated mince into a nutritious, filling meal the whole household can enjoy.

Recipes Straight From the Farm

The recipe cards have their roots in Pāmu farms around the country, where staff were invited to share their favourite mince recipes through an internal competition.

The result is a collection of genuine family favourites, including Chilli-Crisp Noodles, Great Nana's Kiwi Gold Pie, and Smuggled Beans Spag Bol — all built around affordable ingredients and everyday kitchen staples.

Pāmu chief corporate services officer Roz Urbahn says the initiative builds on a long-standing relationship between Pāmu and the charity.

"We have donated to Meet the Need every year since its inception. This year we wanted to add more of a personal touch. These recipes came from running a competition for recipe cards with our people on farm, using everyday ingredients, to turn a pack of mince into a family recipe to share. It is a simple way to connect what we produce on farm with the communities we are proud to support," Urbahn says.

A $25,000 Donation, 21,300+ Meals

This year the Pāmu donation to Meet the Need totals $25,000 — the equivalent of one beast per livestock farm.

On the mince end, that translates to more than 21,300 meals for New Zealand families.

The recipe cards are distributed alongside the donated mince through Meet the Need's network of community food banks and organisations supporting people experiencing food insecurity.

Turning Protein Into Practical Meals

Meet the Need general manager Zellara Holden says the partnership shows how food donations can create impact well beyond a single parcel.

"When someone receives a food parcel, having quality protein can make a real difference to what they're able to put on the table. But sometimes knowing what to do with that ingredient can be just as important. These recipe cards take something as simple as a pack of mince and turn it into inspiration for a family meal. They're practical, accessible and designed with real-life budgets and kitchens in mind."

Holden says the support of Pāmu is an example of what is possible when farmers, community groups, and food banks work together.

"It's about making sure good food reaches the people who need it, while also giving families ideas and confidence to make the most of it."

Food Insecurity in New Zealand

Meet the Need's work with Pāmu forms part of a larger effort connecting New Zealand's farmers and food producers with food banks nationwide. In the past year, Meet the Need supported 148 food banks across the country, helping deliver more than 1.27 million mince and milk meals to people experiencing food insecurity.

Holden says demand for food assistance remains high, and it can affect anyone.

"Food insecurity is not always who you think. Families can find themselves needing support for all sorts of reasons, and a food parcel can provide an important helping hand when household budgets are stretched. The generosity of farmers and businesses like Pāmu means we can get good, nutritious food into communities while also finding creative ways to make that support go further."

From Farm to Food Bank to Table

The new recipe cards will continue to be distributed alongside donated mince through the Meet the Need food bank network — bringing a little extra inspiration to the dinner table, from the farm, to the food bank, and ultimately to homes across Aotearoa.

To find out more about the partnership, or to support Meet the Need's work connecting farmers with food-insecure communities, visit the Meet the Need website.