Food compliance and safety

The University of Auckland is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all staff, students and visitors. This includes ensuring that all food and beverages provided on campus are handled, prepared and served according to the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

In addition to reading the following guidelines and best practises, all University members have a responsibility to:

• Comply with the University Catering Guidelines.
• Ensure that food and beverages are supplied and consumed safely.
• Understand and apply Ministry for Primary Industries food safety requirements and any other relevant legislation.

If you are a staff member and wish to book a Caterer to service your event, please see Catering and Hospitality on the staff intranet. 

Pizza

• Pizza can be purchased from Needo Pasta & Pizza (City Campus) and other recognised pizza chains that operate to a Grade A food safety rating.
• Maximum limit of 50 pizzas per event to align with University sustainability goals.
• Staff, students and clubs should refer to the Safety & Service Guidelines (below) before placing an order to ensure compliance with sustainability and food safety standards.

University retailers

The University has a range of on campus food and beverage retailers available for small or last-minute events.

• Suitable for events with up to 30 attendees.
• Orders can be collected in person from the retail outlet.
• Retailers cannot deliverand may not be familiar with all campus locations.
• This option is best for informal meetings, spontaneous gatherings, or when smaller quantities are required.

Self-catering

Self-catering is generally not recommended, but may be considered appropriate if:

• It's for a small meetings with 10 attendees or fewer
• If you are using pre-packaged food supplied from supermarkets.

Restrictions for self-catering

• Avoid serving fish, deli meats, or dairy products due to higher food safety risks.
• Staff, students and clubs using self-catering must still comply with University food safety and allergen management procedures.

Food trucks are a flexible catering option for larger events or gatherings with a casual atmosphere. All food trucks must meet University health, safety, and sustainability standards, and vendors must be approved and have a current "Use of Facilities" agreement before booking.

To book, contact foodtrucks@auckland.ac.nz for a list of approved vendors and guidance on booking.

Minimum spend
Consider how many food trucks are required for the number of people attending. Each food truck has a minimum spend requirement, if this is not met, the difference is required to be paid at the conclusion of the event.

Payment
You may choose to pay for a set number of servings or for the attendees to pay the food truck directly.

Facilities fee
A 10% facilities fee is payable by the food truck to the University if the attendees are paying the food truck directly. This fee is waved if a set number of servings are paid for.

Bake sales, food stalls, and BBQs are an important part of University culture and community engagement. All fundraising events must comply with University food safety guidelines to prevent reputational or health risks. 

BBQs

Contact student groups to book a BBQ on studentgroups@auckland.ac.nz

• All clubs must display their accredited stall card authorising the sale of goods. This card will be issued by Student Groups staff upon successful booking of your event.
• Purchase pre-cooked sausages and burgers, etc., which are available from supermarkets.
• Be considerate of food retailers’ locations. Avoid setting up directly in front of or across from a food outlet.
• Do not distribute free food between 11am - 2pm to respect on campus retailers.
• Ensure compliance with University food safety requirements and display the “Food Production Allergen Disclaimer" (download above) during the event.

Potluck events

• Limited to a maximum of 30 attendees.
• Consider how you will keep hot and cold food safe throughout your event.
• Ensure compliance with University food safety requirements and display the “Food Production Allergen Disclaimer” (download above) during the event.

Bake sale and food stalls

• All clubs must display their accredited stall card authorising the sale of goods. This card will be issued by Student Groups staff upon successful booking of your event.
• Be considerate of food retailers’ locations. Avoid setting up directly in front of or across from a food outlet.
• Consider how you will keep hot and cold food safe throughout.
• Ensure compliance with University food safety requirements and display the “Food Production Allergen Disclaimer” (download above) during the event.

The University encourages all staff, students and clubs to make sustainable food and beverage choices. You should consider:

• Packaging - minimise single-use plastics or non-recyclable items.
• Waste management - plan how leftover food and packaging will be disposed of, recycled, or composted.
• Supplier choices - select caterers using local, seasonal, and low-impact ingredients.

Sustainable catering supports the University’s broader environmental goals and ensures that events reflect our values of stewardship and care for the natural world. Refer to the University Sustainability Policy for detailed guidance on sourcing and waste management.