Become a Leftover Legend and Win Free Groceries for a Year
As International Food Waste Action Week approaches (9–15 March), South Taranaki District Council is encouraging residents to take part in a nationwide challenge aimed at cutting household food waste simply by doing one thing: eating their leftovers.
The Leftover Legends Challenge, run by Love Food Hate Waste NZ, asks New Zealanders to eat their leftovers for lunch the next day throughout March—collectively aiming to save 25,000 plates of food from landfill. Participants can log each leftover meal online and go in the draw to win groceries for a year.
Every year, Kiwi households send more than 12,000 tonnes of edible leftovers to landfill. While most people believe they already “eat their leftovers”, not doing so remains one of the biggest reasons food is wasted at home.
South Taranaki District Council’s Environment and Sustainability Manager, Cindy Koen, says the challenge is a simple and fun way for locals to make a real difference.
“Here in South Taranaki, we’re proud of our practical, resourceful communities. Eating your leftovers is one of the easiest actions you can take - it's good for the planet and good for your wallet. If every household in our district took this challenge on, the impact would be huge, even small actions add up.”
“Today's leftovers are tomorrow’s free lunch. If everyone planned to eat what they’ve already cooked, we could save thousands of tonnes of food and significantly reduce our climate footprint, while saving some money,” says Cindy.
Food waste currently costs New Zealanders $3 billion each year and contributes to both landfill volumes and methane emissions.
South Taranaki residents keen to take part can visit lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/leftoverlegends between 1 - 31 March 2026 to log their meals and help New Zealand become a nation of Leftover Legends.
How it Works
- Join the challenge – Head to lovefoodhatewastenz website and record what you are saving
- Eat your leftovers – Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Every plate saved counts.
- Climb the leaderboard – Every saved meal is an entry to win groceries for a year.
