The service supplied 1247 parcels last year, reaching 2680 adults and 2598 children. The total represents a 52% increase on 2021 and a whopping 363% increase on 10 years ago.

help last year and we provided food parcels and community support to 114 families who were required to self-isolate,” Mackay says.

Angela Thomas ph 425 9068 admin@localmatters.co.nz

Foodlink manager Roger Mackay says the figures show the continued flow-on effects from the covid pandemic.

Foodlink also provided 272 Christmas treat boxes in December, 22 more than in 2021.

The retail value of all the food provided last year, including the Christmas boxes, was around $214,000.

“The aftermath of covid has been a contributing factor to many people seeking

“The main reason people are not able to make ends meet continues to be the high cost and shortage of rental accommodation, coupled with the low base of welfare benefits. We frequently support families who have had to provide accommodation to extended family who have not been able to find accommodation.”

The church community, and the wider community, continues to provide the backbone of support for the service, donating goods and produce. More than $33,000 was also donated in cash.

“The local business community is also very supportive and we acknowledge the efforts of Warkworth New World,

Foodlink manager Roger Mackay. Warkworth Countdown, Orewa New World, Warkworth Butchery, Dr Hud, The Warehouse Snells Beach and Southern Paprika.”

Hill Street advocates cautiously optimistic cycleway/pedestrian paths. month,” Williams said.

It is understood that the redesign was to accommodate the $18 million budget. The Warkworth advocates have put forward an alternative design that retains most of the features of the original plan, but still keeps within the budget.

Williams told a Warkworth Liaison Group meeting this month that there was a sense at the meeting with AT that they were taking the alternative plan seriously.

“There was enormous political pressure brought to bear to break the deadlock on this.

“It’s likely we will end up with a hybrid design – a little bit of theirs and a little bit of ours.”

Williams says he understands that AT is hoping to start construction later this year, although any land purchase would cause delays.

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“Our design will be cheaper and easier to construct, and they have agreed to workshop it with us around the end of this

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A member of the audience commented that what Williams and Stott had done for free, AT had employed consultants to work on for 12 months.