The government has cut back on funding for school lunches.
The Labour Party has expressed disappointment at the move, with Education Spokesperson Jan Tinetti saying that teachers, parents, and principals across the country were relieved to hear that primary schools would be able to continue serving lunches to their students. However, the Cabinet has since agreed to downsize lunches for all students from years 0-13.
A March Cabinet Paper warned of potential risks to children's achievement, attendance, nutrition, and wellbeing if changes were made to the school lunch programme. Despite this, the government has pushed ahead with the cuts, citing a reduced budget per meal. The Ministry of Education had previously stated that $3 a day was insufficient for feeding secondary students properly.
Naenae College reported that it will not be able to deliver the programme next year due to its supplier's inability to provide meals under the new budget. Labour has questioned why the government is allowing these changes, given evidence and reports on the benefits of the school lunch programme. The move has raised concerns about the impact on student learning and attendance.