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Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says the government’s response to an epidemic of childhood obesity falls well short of what is needed.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has rejected taxing sugary drinks or discouraging the sale of junk food in school cafes.
Instead there will be a public information campaign, promotion of physical activity, and targeted interventions for those who are obese.
Ms Wall says the main tool seems to be to use the B4School health check to identify overweight preschoolers and offer their parents advice.
In South Auckland only about 60 percent of the 3500 Pacific Island preschoolers get that check.
"Which means 1200 of our kids aren't going to be even able to access additional support because they are not in the system because they are not getting the B4School check," Ms Wall says.
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