Healthy School Lunches Programme

Starting Term 1 2021

The Government is currently introducing a free, healthy, daily school lunch in some schools for all students. We are very excited to let you know that our school will be joining the free lunch programme from Term 1, 2021. 

All parents want to provide their children with a healthy lunch every day. But, as you will know, there are many reasons parents can struggle, often through no fault of their own. We know that some of you will have been particularly affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Offering a lunch for all our children who need it will go some way to helping families and whānau to support their children and tamariki. This is why we have decided to take part in this programme.

Lunches will cater for the diet, health and cultural needs of our students, while making sure they are healthy and nutritious. All food will meet New Zealand food safety standards. The lunches will be available for all our students. While we know there are hungry children in every community, we do not always know who they are. Providing lunch to every child means we do not need to identify those who need it more than others. However, lunches are not compulsory, and you can continue to provide your child’s own lunch if you wish.

For Term 1, we have hired three amazing local women to run and prepare our school lunches. Please join us in welcoming Sally Dustow (Manager) and her team of Tracey Baxter and Tania Habib. Weekly menus will be posted on the College website. 

The government sponsored school lunch programme will run until the end of 2021 and will be evaluated whilst it is running. This will include feedback from schools, students and suppliers about what the lunches are like, how they are delivered, and if they have an impact on students’ learning and achievement. This information will help to decide whether and how to continue beyond 2022.

You can find out more about the programme at:  www.education.govt.nz/free-and-healthy-school-lunches

If you have any further questions, please contact our school office, or the Ministry at [email protected]