Cuts to go ahead, but hungry will be fed

Free school lunch funding remains on the chopping block but the hungriest kids will still get fed, David Seymour confirmed, after hearing about its benefits from students.

The Associate Education Minister visited Hillmorton High School in Christchurch yesterday after confirming he was looking to cut funding to Ka Ora, Ka Ako, a $323 million free lunch scheme.

Students spoke in support of the scheme that provides a million lunches to nearly 1000 schools each week, but Seymour said their words did not really change his views about cuts to the programme. “Clearly there are people who value it, the question is how can we deliver that value in a way that’s more attractive to the taxpayer.”

Seymour said the revised scheme would cost “a significant amount” less but did not think at this stage it would be halved.

The cost of each lunch would be considered first, then the number of meals per school, and finally the total number of schools, he indicated.

Seymour’s announcement to cut funding from Ka Ako, Ka Ora has raised concerns from children, principals and charities who feared attendance and performance would fall. Save the Children NZ and Health Coalition New Zealand spoke in support of the programme, and the Labour party launched a petition.

Yesterday Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) launched its own petition calling on the Government not to slash the programme, branding the proposal “morally wrong” and one that would affect disproportionately affect Māori children – who have the highest rates of food insecurity.

“In the context of increasing child poverty, food insecurity and poor nutrition this proposal is incomprehensible,” an HCA spokesperson said.

Hillmorton High School principal Ann Brokenshire said Ka Ako, Ka Ora had been “really good for our community” but cost the Government a lot – $1.3m for her school alone.

“It’s huge money for the Government, so you sort of get it – but it has made a difference. “It’s probably the only meal for some of our kids that they get in a day, and it’s the only hot meal when we have hot lunches.”

Some students could afford to have lunch, but Brokenshire feared if the number of meals were reduced then those in need would be singled out, as the school could not cover the difference.

The principal pointed to British systems where students pay for lunches with a swipe card and some students have their cards topped up for them, removing the potential for stigmatism.

“I won’t allow any kid to be excluded. Not from sport, not from any other co-curricular, not from food,” she said.