The Auckland City Mission said the gender gap in hunger is growing. Photo: Lui Chen
The Auckland City Missioner says the gender pay gap must be closed as a growing number of women are using foodbanks.
Helen Robinson said single mothers were most in need and women were far greater users of foodbanks than men.
"It really, really shows that people who are suffering deeply in terms of poverty in our country is because of a lack of adequate income."
Robinson said the mission is supporting the Mind the Gap campaign, which is urging the government to require businesses to measure and publish their pay gaps.
Robinson is calling for the gender pay gap to be closed and says women are not paid enough.
"Adequate income means that families and mothers can provide adequately for their family.
"So there's a big sense of sovereignty and independence, which is what we want for every family and every individual in our country."
Helen Robinson. Photo: RNZ Insight / Sarah Robson
Food insecurity affects more than one in 10 adults in Aotearoa, according to a recent study.
"At the Mission we see food insecurity issues through our provision of food to people who quite simply have nowhere else to turn," Robinson said.
Last year, the Mission said it served 41,977 meals in their community dining room, Haeata, and distributed more than 63,000 food parcels to families in need.