Increasing numbers of families are having to go to food banks just to put a meal on the table, according to a new report that should shame the Government into action, says Labour's Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni.

'The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services' Vulnerability Report released today says social agencies are seeing more and more families relying on food banks to get by.

'This report paints a picture of despair and confirms how out of touch the National Government is with the harsh realities facing so many New Zealand families.

'The increase in food bank demand coincides with a 28 per cent decrease in Work and Income Special Needs Grants for food in the past six years.

'Families shouldn't have to rely on food banks to put a meal on the table. And the Government shouldn't take advantage of the good will of organisations when they are being stretched beyond capacity.

'Incomes are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living – that's why so many Kiwis can't put food on the table. We should not be a country where more and more families need to go to food banks for the basics,” says Carmel Sepuloni.

Source: Office of Carmel Sepuloni.