Ani Brunet, CEO of Garden to Table

How Garden to Table uses strong reporting to tell the story behind its impact

“We wanted to find a firm that is values-aligned, would do a good job technically, and be great to work with. It’s been an excellent experience. We’ve decided to retain BVO Audit going forward – we’re stoked!” – Ani Brunet, CEO, Garden to Table Trust

Garden to Table empowers tamariki across Aotearoa New Zealand to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh kai. Since launching in 2009, the programme has grown to reach more than 33,000 children through more than 300 schools and early childhood centres nationwide.

The impact extends well beyond school gardens, kitchens and classrooms. Children develop practical life skills, build confidence, strengthen their connection to food and the environment, and bring those learnings home to their whānau and communities.

The programme’s approach has also been recognised through research from the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge. In modelling the impacts of dietary policy in New Zealand, school food education programmes such as Garden to Table were identified among the top five most promising interventions for improving health and sustainability outcomes.

For an organisation creating this level of impact, accountability matters.

So does reporting.

Reporting that supports impact

For Garden to Table, the annual report is far more than a compliance document.

“Our Annual Report is not just numbers. We added stories and photos to bring the whole document alive around a formal audit report.”

The report is shared widely with schools, supporters, funders and prospective partners. It helps communicate the Trust’s impact, demonstrates accountability and gives stakeholders confidence in the organisation’s stewardship.

Strong reporting is particularly important for an organisation that relies on partnerships and community support to grow its reach.

“Partnerships, supporters and funders are critical. Every time we get a new school or early learning centre, it costs our Trust a few thousand dollars.  And we are on a mission to grow – we want all children to be able to learn to grow and cook good food.”

That commitment to high-quality reporting was recognised externally when Garden to Table was the winner of Tier Three and received a Highly Commended award in the Sustainability category in recent Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand Awards.

Finding the right partner

When Garden to Table’s Board asked CEO Ani Brunet to explore options for a new audit provider, they approached the decision carefully.

“We’ve got a high-calibre board of trustees with extensive financial, governance and legal experience. We did a bit of brainstorming together, and we picked out three or four different companies that I then researched and approached.”

One trustee suggested speaking with BVO Audit after seeing the firm’s excellent work with another charity he is involved with.

“What Alex did that was different, which was fantastic, is he wanted to actually meet online and have a chat. I could instantly see this is someone that’s got a lot of warmth who would be great to deal with – and I wasn’t wrong.”

Changing auditors can sometimes create extra work and uncertainty, particularly for lean teams. That wasn’t Garden to Table’s experience.

“They share our values, are technically very competent and easy to work with. It’s been seamless – and that’s not usually the case for the first time doing an audit.”

“We shared the auditors’ questions across our small team. We never felt overwhelmed or rushed. And we always understand what we were being asked and why.”

Impact at a glance

Garden to Table’s 2025 annual report highlights the scale of its work:

• 318 schools delivering Garden to Table programmes nationwide
• 33,390 tamariki growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh kai
• 1,335,600 meals grown, cooked, eaten and loved
• 57,240 hours spent gardening, cooking, learning and eating
• 100% of principals surveyed say Garden to Table benefits students
• 100% say it contributes to improved education outcomes and environmental awareness
• 95% say it contributes to better health outcomes

Going forward together

Garden to Table has chosen to continue with BVO Audit for a second year.

“We wanted to find a firm that is values-aligned, would do a good job technically, and be great to work with. It’s been an excellent experience. We’ve decided to retain BVO Audit going forward – we’re stoked!”         

An interview with Ani Brunet, CEO, Garden to Table Trust.

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