The NZ Vegetarian Society (NZVS) is beginning celebrations of World Vegetarian Month 2025 with the official launch of public voting for the annual Think Kind student competition on World Vegetarian Day, October 1st.
World Vegetarian Month is a chance to promote sustainability, healthy living, and kindness to animals. This month encompasses World Vegetarian Day, World Animal Day on October 4th, and ends with World Vegan Day on November 1st.
“The popularity and awareness of the benefits of a vegetarian diet on our health and the planet have increased dramatically since the NZVS began,” says Julia Clements, President of the NZVS. “This month is a reminder that vegetarianism is still vitally important and a way to respond to the climate issues we’re facing. We encourage everyone to give the lifestyle a go and embrace all the benefits that vegetarianism has to offer.”
Entries have closed for the Think Kind competition 2025, and, as usual, we’ve received some exceptional submissions! This annual competition encourages students in years 0 to 13 to consider how we can demonstrate kindness to animals, our planet, and one another. NZVS received hundreds of entries from students around the motu in 2025.
Voting for the top 10 finalists will be open on the NZ Vegetarian Society website for the whole of World Vegetarian Month. The winner of the People’s Choice award receives $1,000 for their school, kindly co-sponsored by Quorn and the NZ Vegetarian Society. The winner will be announced on World Vegan Day on November 1st, 2025.
Alongside this exciting announcement, the NZVS is encouraging people around the country to try out a plant-based diet by enrolling in the 21 Day Plant-Based Challenge. Participants are offered free resources from the NZVS, including recipes and nutritional information to support their journey.
For World Vegetarian Month, all those who sign up receive a year-long membership to the NZVS with a subscription to the NZVS quarterly magazine Vegetarian Living NZ. Plus, Hell Pizza are providing each entrant with a pizza voucher. Membership also includes an exclusive membership booklet offering discounts from amazing Vegetarian Approved and Vegan Certified brands including Proper Crisps, Waiheke Herbs, Green Dinner Table, Treasured Morning, Solomons Gold, Goodbye, TranzAlpine Honey, Hemp New Zealand, The Veggie Tree, Holistic Hair, Cookie Time, Em’s Power Cookies and Bars, Marisco Vineyards, Panna Soaps, Annies, Clinicians, & Babich Wines.
Additionally, libraries across the country will present informative displays to raise awareness about the benefits of vegetarianism. These will feature posters and pamphlets supplied by the NZVS, and copies of Vegetarian Living NZ.
The NZVS is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting vegetarianism and veganism, advocating for animal welfare, and fostering a more sustainable and compassionate world. Through education, information, support, campaigns and research, the NZVS strives to inspire individuals to make mindful choices that benefit animals, the environment, and their own well-being.
A big thanks to our generous sponsors for contributing to prize packs:
