Steve Munro

While volunteering in Mozambique, Steve Munro from Kaibosh Food Rescue was gripped by the cruelty and injustice of poverty. He still is. His journey to Wellington from Inverness, Scotland has taken him around the world working in grassroots projects with the very poorest to help them overcome their daily struggles. 

My childhood in Inverness, was cold and draughty, but fun. School was okay and life was busy. Mum and Dad had five kids under five years old at the start; we were always out of the house and got up to a lot of mischief.

I remember Mum writing to the local supermarket and suggesting they stock fair trade goods. This was in about 1982. She’d be considered an activist these days. It makes me incredibly proud of her.

One of her earlier jobs was supporting young people with difficulties. She recognised that community was important and was always getting us kids to hang out with her clients so we could learn from each other. 

At 17 I joined the Royal Navy and spent five years on a submarine! On the day I left the navy I decided to join the anti-nuclear protesters at the gate. I took my guitar and sang some songs before being hauled back inside the gates, put on trial and given punishment. 

Next, I ended up in Mozambique working on a grassroots development project. It was a brilliant experience and really opened my eyes. People from all over the world came together to be hyper-creative with theatre, music and art. I built friendships, repaired schools and took part in the local life of rural north Mozambique. It’s also where I met my future Kiwi wife, Vicki.

Vicki and I joined a social movement and poverty-fighting NGO in New York City and I led and facilitated a street library for nearly five years. Working with the very poorest of NYC, I soon learnt about what people struggle with and how they overcome these daily struggles. 

When we returned to New Zealand, I had to go straight to work to support the family. I spent five years working in youth mental health support. It was great work but very trying on my own health. Then one day I found out about Kaibosh Food Rescue and wanted to be involved. I knew my own abilities, my own kaupapa, I knew I would fit in. When an opening arrived, I jumped at the chance!

I’ve been with Kaibosh now for about two years as one of the drivers collecting food from donors. We bring the rescued food back to Kaibosh headquarters and sort out what goes into the fridges, freezers or on the dry goods shelf. Then it’s sorted each evening by our volunteers before being redistributed. 

I feel lucky to be a local doing local work for local people. I love being involved in an organisation that reduces food waste, provides a reliable service to community groups and reduces carbon emissions because the waste is no longer going to landfill.

I really enjoy the feeling of rescuing huge amounts of food and knowing that this food is going to families in need. It is used in food banks, drop in centers, housing facilities, crisis facilities. 

Sometimes I imagine beautiful rescued corn or cucumber going into a kid’s sandwich and it tasting amazing. It makes me happy and proud to be consistently reliable for Kaibosh and to source greater and greater volumes of food. 

One supermarket worker I was recently talking with said, ‘It’s just one person in the store who doesn’t like the waste. They put it aside for Kaibosh, and suddenly the volumes increase.’ The challenge I put to you all is – reduce the waste, be that one person.

– As told to Ben Woodward. Image by Billie Brook.

One person can make a difference. So can 1%. Help Kaibosh keep food in tummies that need it most with a regular donation via One Percent Collective below.