A healthy lifestyle where people can enjoy nutritious and beneficial food in their diet is of the up-most importance. A healthy and balanced diet is essential for your general well-being.

However, in New Zealand, the high prices of fresh and wholesome foods make it difficult for everyone in our society to reap the benefits that come with healthy-eating. Exorbitant costs are preventing many of our people from what can be called a basic right; to be able to live a healthy life. Those who are less financially-able or lower on the socioeconomic scale don't always have the means to afford the prices we are being charged, and therefore, many healthier options are inaccessible.

Along with the high and increasing food prices comes a lack of education on health in our school system. A better education regarding food and health would be extremely beneficial to our society, showing young people that it's possible to eat healthily even on the tightest of budgets, as well as teaching basic cooking skills, food preparation, and simple healthy meals that don't break the bank and require little effort to prepare.

The New Zealand Green Party's Food Policy would help improve the social issue of high costs for healthy foods in New Zealand. This issue is extremely important and change does need to occur. The implementation
of this Food Policy would be extremely beneficial for the future of our
society, and will ensure that future generations will lead healthier lifestyles
where healthy produce is affordable, as well as being educated in how to shop for, prepare, and cook healthy foods and meals for little cost and minimal effort. To have a good and detailed look at the Food Policy and its aims and ideas, please visit the link: https://home.greens.org.nz/policy/food

The consequences that will potentially occur if change doesn't happen are frightening; for example, increasing rates of obesity and obesity-related disease, and its knock-on effects of unemployment, the continuation of the poverty cycle, and therefore a lack of education for future generations, and of course, the continual welfare loss that is occurring due to a reduction in household spending which will damage and set back our economy.

The implementation of the Green Party's Food Policy is of utmost importance for the future of our country's health. If you would like to see some change, please sign this petition to try and have the Food Policy put into action.