Demand for food banks has skyrocketed since the start of Covid-19.

A survey by The New Zealand Food Network - which distributes surplus and donated food - found demand for its food hubs has grown 165 percent since January 2020.

These food hubs around the country are supporting almost half a million people each month.

CEO Gavin Findlay says there are people turning to food banks who never have before - including working families and people who have previously had cultural concerns with seeking help.

"A lot of their resources that they have had have really been depleted over the last couple of years, with the impact of Covid and the cost of living. So now they're in the space of- where do we turn to?"

 Gavin Findlay says the majority of their food hubs could take more food to meet demand.

"There's no stockpiling, there's no holding on to products cause there isn't any there. Everything that we put into the system is being used."