Health Coalition Aotearoa says a critical report from the Auditor-General has confirmed long-standing concerns that changes to the Government’s school lunch programme have compromised nutrition, quality and delivery, renewing calls for a better-funded model that puts tamariki first.
The Auditor-General’s review found significant shortcomings in the procurement process, supplier performance, programme monitoring and compliance with nutrition standards following changes introduced to the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme.
Health Coalition Aotearoa says the findings reinforce evidence gathered by public health researchers showing many meals have failed to meet expected nutritional requirements while schools have reported ongoing concerns about food quality, waste and student acceptance.
Health Coalition Aotearoa has argued that funding reductions have affected the programme’s effectiveness and says children are missing out on the benefits that were demonstrated under the original Ka Ora, Ka Ako model.
Research undertaken by the coalition found many meals delivered under the current model contained significantly less energy than recommended and frequently failed to meet nutritional standards designed to support growing children.
Before the programme was centralised, many schools sourced meals from local providers, iwi organisations, social enterprises and small businesses that employed local people and understood the needs of their communities.
Health Coalition Aotearoa says moving away from that model has had wider consequences than simply changing who prepares the food.
The organisation is now advocating for what it describes as a “version three” of the school lunch programme—one that balances financial sustainability with high nutritional standards and stronger local delivery.
Health Coalition Aotearoa says future investment should ensure children receive meals that meet at least a quarter of their daily nutritional requirements while allowing schools greater flexibility to choose delivery models that best meet the needs of their students.
The debate comes as increasing numbers of families continue to experience financial hardship and food insecurity. Public health experts have consistently argued that well-designed school food programmes not only improve nutrition but also support attendance, educational achievement, mental wellbeing and equity for children facing disadvantage.
For Māori communities, the programme carries particular importance. Māori tamariki are disproportionately represented in schools participating in Ka Ora, Ka Ako, making the quality and accessibility of nutritious school meals an important contributor to reducing health inequities and improving educational outcomes.
As pressure grows following the Auditor-General’s report, attention is now turning to whether the Government will reconsider the programme’s design and funding model ahead of the next school year.
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