Shoppers queue at the Shevington Farms table in Wellington’s Harbourside Markets. Photo: Jessica Gessner-Hickman
With food prices high, shoppers are looking for alternatives to filling the trolley at the supermarket. RNZ spoke to shoppers at Wellington's Harbourside Market to hear their favourite ways to save a few dollars and find out what they might being going without in tough economic times. Bill Hickman reports.
On a windy Sunday morning at Wellington's Harbourside Market, shoppers are out in force looking for fresh bargains and maybe a snack to help ward off the cold breeze whipping up from the nearby sea.
Students, families and inner-city apartment dwellers rubbed shoulders in a maze of vegetables stacked on colourful plastic crates - all seeking out the best prices for their weekly fruit and veggies.
We asked the shoppers why they would rather brave the blustery conditions instead of shopping at the large supermarket across the road.
Buying the 'budgetest of the budgetest'
John Forne rode his cargo bike down to the markets and was buying in bulk to save money.
He said the reality of feeding a household in today's economic climate had superseded some of the ideals of his younger student days.
"I wanted to buy organic stuff and now I'm buying the budgetest of the budgetest.
'I've never stopped buying fruit and veggies but I always used to go to the proper bakeries to get the bread and now I'm just going to Pak'nSave to buying the cheap, pre-sliced stuff. That's what's changed. It's not here but it's at the supermarket that's changed," Forne said.
Photo: RNZ
RNZ asked the market shoppers what else they were doing to save money.
One said they no longer drove and relied on public transport while another had cancelled their life insurance policy - putting the money towards their rates bill.
Forne said he was looking for a new gas provider after "horrendous" heating bills.
He said he would also hunt and fish to put extra food on the family table.
Brenda Simonsen with her tray of Shevington Farm eggs. She says she plans her weekly meals to make the most of the food she buys. Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman
Brenda Simonsen said high prices had made her plan their weekly meals instead of simply filling the pantry with ingredients to choose from.
"I make menus every week, come to the market, shop to a list and make more of our food," Simonsen said.
"It's how our grandmothers used to live. You hunker down and do the things that you were taught to do when you grew up."
'I'll go to the supermarket and it's just crazy' - student
"I'll go to the supermarket and it's just crazy how things can be," student Eve Dalley said.
"It's definitely a lot cheaper here and I think the quality of the produce is also better."
Paloma Fernandez says she likes to shop at the Harbourside Markets to save money while supporting local farmers. Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman
Paloma Fernandez said she loved bringing her children to enjoy the atmosphere.
"The prices are really considerably different from the supermarket. It's also a way of supporting the farmers and I think it's a nice activity to do," she said.
Martin Clune said he liked the informal nature of buying veggies from the market's stalls.
"You do get some good bargains here. You can always do a bit of bartering - you have to - or else you're an idiot," Clune said.
Martin Clune says a shopper can find good bargains at the markets especially if they’re prepared to barter. Photo: RNZ/Bill Hickman
Brian Stinson said it paid to shop around to find the best food at the best prices.
"I go to the supermarket once or twice a week and work out what I can get cheaper here and do that," he said.
'There's no need to pillage people' - Shevington Farms co-owner
Near the market's entrance a line of nearly 30 people stretched away from a sparse, unbranded table surrounded by stacks of Shevington Farms free-range eggs.
Shevington Farm owners Steve and Kath Gaskell. Photo: Supplied
Shevington co-owner Steve Gaskell said he sold nearly 15,000 eggs at the market each Sunday - a little over three trays every minute.
Gaskell said people would always be drawn to good quality kai for a reasonable price.
"If our costs aren't going up it doesn't really matter what the rest of the country's doing. As long as we're still getting our share there's no need to pillage people," Gaskell said.
Shevington Farm’s Steve Gaskell (centre of table) sells about 15,000 eggs each Sunday at the Wellington Harbourside Markets. Photo: Jessica Gessner-Hickman
'Huge increase' in calls for budgeting assistance - Wellington City Mission
Pip Rey of the Wellington City Mission said they had seen a "huge increase" in the number and variety of people coming for budgeting advice.
"Where we used to see quite a clear demographic of small families or single adults who weren't working, and maybe relying on a benefit. Now we see a bit more of a spectrum.
"There's people out there who are working Monday to Friday - trying to do their best - and still struggling to meet day to day costs.
"The reality for a lot of whānau is actually 'by the time I've paid my rent and paid the electricity and done the bare essentials, there's just no money left'," Rey said.
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