New research highlights benefits of free school lunches for students.
A recent Ministry of Education-commissioned report from a kaupapa Māori perspective has found that the free school lunch programme is associated with improved learning outcomes, reduced aggression, and increased engagement in tikanga Māori among students. The report also noted that teachers reported alleviation of stress for many whānau due to reduced grocery bills.
The research supports previous findings that highlighted concerns about the potential negative impacts on child poverty, nutrition, attendance, and wellbeing. Labour's education spokesperson Jan Tinetti stated that "the evidence is clear" about the benefits for Māori students and questioned why Ministers ignored these warnings when making changes to the programme.
Labour has called on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to intervene and stop the proposed cuts to the school lunch programme, citing concerns over worsening inequities and deepening the divide in Māori-Crown relations.