Food needs to be grown, processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed and, sometimes, disposed of. Each of these steps creates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Farming in Christchurch makes up 16% of our greenhouse gas emissions. However, most of our food comes from other parts of the country, contributing to our national footprint, where farming makes up half of New Zealand’s emissions.  

Reducing food waste, choosing fresh, seasonal and local produce, and eating more vegetables and less red meat can improve your health, save money and cut emissions.  

Worth a thought 

  • Every year, Kiwis waste $3.2 billion worth of food. That's $1,510 for each household, every year.  
  • If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest producer of global emissions behind China and the United States.  
  • On average, food makes up about half of a household’s emissions, taking a consumption-based approach.  
  • Mahinga kai is a Māori term that encompasses the cultural traditions and practices of caring for nature so that food and natural resources – such as materials for building, weaving, art and health – can be grown, harvested, processed, shared and enjoyed by the community, now and for generations to come. 

What you can do 

Ways to help lower emissions:

Reduce food waste  

Get the most out of your food by planning meals and only buying what you need, storing food correctly to avoid spoilage and making the most of any leftovers. For useful tips and recipes, visit Love Food Hate Waste.(external link) 

Eat more fresh, seasonal and local foods  

Eating seasonal food grown in New Zealand, and fewer frozen and imported goods, can cut your costs and food miles, plus helps to support local jobs and growers. A great place to get local food is from one of Christchurch’s 10 regular farmers’ markets, or from your local fruit and vegetable shop. Find local farmers' markets(external link).  

Grow food at home  

Growing food at home allows you to enjoy fruit, vegetables and herbs from your very own garden. Learn more at tCanterbury Horticultural Society(external link) and Edible Christchurch(external link). 

Compost food scraps and garden trimmings  

Feeding your soils with compost and mulch is a great way to use less water and make your garden more productive. Our guide to garden composting(external link) can help you get started on home composting.  

Harvest fruit and nuts from trees growing in public places  

Food foraging in the garden city is taking off. Check out our map of trees you can harvest from(external link). 

Help out in your local community or school garden 

Christchurch has 46 community gardens(external link) and numerous school gardens which are often looking for helpers. They’re great places to learn about food growing and how to compost, and they can offer fresh produce to people who help out.   

Eat more plant-based meals  

Eating more vegetables, fruit and nuts can be better for you and the planet. There are lots of delicious options available. Take it one step at a time – find some delicious recipes and try at least one plant-based meal a week. 

What we’re doing 

Christchurch is known as the Garden City because of the many Council parks and gardens, but also because of the wonderful gardens grown by households and community groups throughout the district. We’re working with community and business partners to grow a more sustainable, resilient and thriving local food system for the many benefits this provides our community, economy and environment.  

Urban food policy and action planning  

We co-developed a Food Resilience Policy and Action Plan, which we’re jointly working on with the community. Christchurch has also joined the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact(external link) – a network of over 200 cities supporting more sustainable food systems for their communities. 

Celebrating edible sustainable gardens 

Each year, we host the Edible and Sustainable Garden Awards(external link) to celebrate the wonderful gardening efforts of schools, communities and individuals throughout the city. 

Fostering innovation in the local food sector  

Our economic development agency, ChristchurchNZ, supports innovation in the local food sector through the Food, Fibre and AgriTech business cluster. Learn more at ChristchurchNZ(external link).  

Supporting community gardens and farmers’ markets  

Many of the community gardens and farmers’ markets in Christchurch are located on Council-owned land. We support these groups because of the many benefits they provide for the community. We’ve also published detailed guides on how to establish new community gardens(external link). 

Supporting community-led food projects  

We have a range of funds(external link) that support community and school gardens to get set up and keep running, such as the Sustainability Fund and Strengthening Communities Fund.