Taxpayers reap benefits from commercial partnership.
The New Zealand government has announced a significant cost-saving initiative in its school lunch programme, working with businesses to deliver over $130 million of annual savings. The programme, led by Associate Education Minister David Seymour, leverages private sector expertise from companies like Compass Group and Gilmours to achieve better results.
The partnership has resulted in the development of nutritious meals, including butter chicken curry, lasagne, and wraps, at a cost of $3 each for students. This is a significant reduction compared to the previous Labour-led government's model, which saw lunches costing up to $8.68 per student.
Schools using the external model will continue to receive daily hot and cold meals, while those preparing meals internally will have access to government-negotiated wholesale ingredients at a slight increase in funding. The programme is expected to evolve over time, but for now, schools are focused on a smooth transition for Term 1 next year.
The savings from the programme will also fund food for up to 10,000 two-to-five-year-olds attending low-equity early learning services. Minister Seymour has expressed appreciation for the hard work and effective collaboration between commercial partners, the Expert Advisory Group, the Ministry of Education, affected schools, and suppliers to provide a fantastic solution for children.
The initiative sets a precedent for government-private sector partnerships to achieve better results and highlights the potential benefits of such collaborations in delivering public services.