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A Whanganui Māori social services trust says the deck is stacked against Māori wanting to provide school lunches – even if schools wanted their service.
The Kimiora Trust used to provide 3500 hot meals to three Whanganui schools – but lost those contracts when schools were directly funded by the Education Ministry.
Founder Kiritahi Firmin says it came to cutting costs, and she sees the same happening now with Associate Education Minister David Seymour’s demand suppliers provide a healthy meal for just $3.
“It’s going to happen whether we like it or not, and let’s see if the Pita Pits, the Subways, and the other organisations – even the cafes and eateries here in Whanganui, see if they actually take that option up. Because if I was in business I wouldn’t, because I can’t pay my staff,” she says.
“It’s going to happen whether we like it or not, and let’s see if the Pita Pits, the Subways, and the other organisations – even the cafes and eateries here in Whanganui, see if they actually take that option up. Because if I was in business I wouldn’t, because I can’t pay my staff,” she says.
Kiritahi Firmin says tamariki will end up getting a budget cut-lunch, which won’t supply enough nutrition to help them learn – if that is their main meal of the day.
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