Students from six schools in Wellington visited Parliament to request the government not to cut or alter the free school lunches programme. The associate education minister, David Seymour, has stated that the programme will continue, but in a way that maximises benefits for students who need it most and provides value for money.
The students, from Taita College, Bishop Viard College, Porirua College, Naenae College, Arakura School, and Ngāti Toa School, met with MPs from Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori. They discussed the Ka Ako Ka Ora programme and shared lunch with the MPs. The students explained that the programme has improved attendance and eased pressure on students, parents, and teachers.
Henry Tanuvasa from Bishop Viard College pointed out that the programme also helps parents save money as they don’t have to buy lunch for their kids every day. Malachi Iafeta, a year 10 student at Taita College, said the meals have improved student wellbeing and attendance. He noted that the food has encouraged some students to attend school and focus on their studies.
The students were supported by Health Coalition Aotearoa, which presented a petition to Labour’s education spokesperson Jan Tinetti. The Coalition’s co-chairperson, Professor Lisa te Morenga, argued that it doesn’t make sense for the government to set attendance targets while considering cuts to a programme that has improved attendance.
Labour has its own petition, urging the government to fully fund the programme. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the only ways to continue the programme while saving money were to reduce the number of students receiving it or to lower the quality of the food.
Seymour responded that it’s too early to speculate on what changes will be made as they are still being discussed in the cabinet. He blamed the previous government for not funding the programme beyond this year. Seymour also noted that the programme has only slightly increased attendance and it would cost potentially billions to achieve the government’s attendance goals solely through funding lunches.
