A budgeting service in Auckland says soaring prices are making it tough for families to buy healthy foods.
Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show food prices rose 0.5% last month - mostly due to rising fruit and vegetable prices.
Prices have risen 7.4% in the past year.
Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services says families are buying less nutritious food or are having to seek food parcels because they don't have enough money after paying household bills.
Chief executive Darryl Evans says the figures support calls for the Government to remove the goods and services tax from fruit and vegetables.
