The Otago University Students Association says there has been a 64% increase in food bank use by students.
Last year students took food bank supplies on 318 occasions, and this year that figure has risen to 522.
The association says this is the first year it has had to send financial assistance packages to students needing help in the university's campuses in Canterbury and Wellington.
Welfare officer Shonelle Eastwood says the pressure on food banks can be put down to cost of living increases for food and electricity, coupled with an increase in GST last year.
