From Hill to Table: A New Way to Share Wild Game with Communities in Need

A new Aotearoa New Zealand initiative is helping to turn an existing resource into something that can make a real difference for families under pressure. Kai Sanders reports on the collaborative work of Game Changer NZ and Hunt and Share.

Launched in May, Game Changer NZ brings together hunters, communities and foodbanks to increase the supply of donated wild game meat across the country. The initiative is a joint effort from the Game Animal Council and the Wild Game Recovery Trust, designed to make it easier, safer and more coordinated to get high-quality protein to people who need it most.

For The Salvation Army, the need is clear. ‘One in three households are experiencing food insecurity, and access to good-quality protein can make a real difference for families under pressure,’ says Salvation Army Food Security Manager Sonya Cameron. ‘Meat is the number one request from whānau using our foodbanks, and also the most expensive item for us to provide.’

That challenge has only grown as the cost of living continues to rise. While foodbanks work hard to provide balanced and nutritious parcels, protein is often the hardest component to secure in consistent supply.
Connections and contributions

At its heart, the Game Changer NZ initiative connects an existing practice—recreational hunting—with community need. Hunters across Aotearoa New Zealand are already harvesting wild game and many have long donated venison informally within their communities. Game Changer NZ builds on that generosity, creating a national system to help more of that meat reach foodbanks in a coordinated and reliable way.

‘This isn’t about replacing what’s already happening,’ says Wild Game Recovery Trust Founder Wayne Langford. ‘It’s about supporting and growing it—making it easier for more people to contribute and for that contribution to reach families who need it.’

One of the biggest barriers to wild game donation has been cost. Processing an animal into foodbank-ready portions requires time and skilled butchery, and those costs have often fallen on hunters themselves. Through Game Changer NZ, communities, businesses and individuals can contribute financially to cover processing costs, meaning hunters can donate their harvest knowing it will be used. Once $120 is raised for a specific foodbank, a hunt is commissioned for one deer, which can produce around 20kg of meat.

‘That means hunters can head out hunting and donate an animal knowing the processing cost is covered, and the meat will be appreciated and utilised,’ Wayne says.

Keeping safe

Alongside this coordination is Hunt and Share, a digital platform developed by the Game Animal Council. Hunt and Share provides the tools that support safe and traceable donation, including a knowledge check for hunters and a donation tracking system.

Each animal donated through the programme is logged and tracked from harvest through to butchery and distribution, with QR code labelling and batch systems that provide transparency along the way.
‘Food safety and traceability are critical for us,’ Sonya says. ‘The Hunt and Share platform helps give foodbanks and families confidence in the food they’re receiving.’

Together, Game Changer NZ and Hunt and Share create a full pathway—from hillside to table—that ensures donated meat is handled responsibly and reaches the communities it is intended for.

Food going further

For foodbanks, the impact is practical and immediate. Wild game meat becomes an additional source of high-quality protein, complementing existing supplies such as purchased food, grocery donations and rescued surplus.

‘This initiative gives us another way to provide nutritious, filling meals,’ Sonya says. ‘It helps stretch our resources further so we can support more whānau.’

With hunters donating their time and harvest, butchers contributing their expertise and donors helping cover costs, the initiative brings together people from different walks of life around a shared purpose.

‘We’re seeing a real sense of collective effort,’ Sonya says. ‘Everyone is playing a part in making sure good food gets to people who need it.’

‘Our involvement in the initiative is grounded firmly in our mission to reduce hardship and support those most affected by poverty,’ says Sonya. ‘Through Game Changer NZ, we can ensure people have access to safe, nutritious food. When there’s an opportunity to make good use of an existing resource and direct it to families in need, that’s something we want to support.’

Game Changer NZ is already working with more than 100 foodbanks nationwide, including 61 Salvation Army sites, with the potential to grow further as awareness increases.

‘This is about making sure people can feed their families well and have nutritious meals that are sustainably provided but also delicious.’

As communities continue to respond to the challenges of rising costs and increasing need, initiatives like this highlight the power of practical, locally driven solutions.

By connecting those who have something to give with those who need support, Game Changer NZ and Hunt and Share are helping ensure that more people across Aotearoa New Zealand can share in the benefits of good food.