The Need

Universal, healthy school lunch programmes are a powerful mechanism to breaking the poverty cycle in the short and long term. They provide a vital safety net and social protection for the most vulnerable children, wherever they are, whatever their circumstances, free from stigma.
They support zero hunger at school by filling tummies with one good nutritious meal a day.

%

New Zealand children in poverty

%

Population have full access to food

1/3

Obese or Overweight

1/3

Admitted to Starship Hospital

1 in 4 children in New Zealand are living under the poverty line

Only 59% of the population are fully food secure
It is common for children to miss school and therefore miss out on their education due to the stigma of having no food.

New Zealand has the third largest percentage of overweight and obese children in the OECD. 1 in 3 children in new Zealand are obese or overweight.

1 in 3 children admitted to Starship Hospital are malnourished to some degree.

Benefits of a universal school lunch program to New Zealand

It could help reduce health spend on poor diet related diseases. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are costing the nation $2.15bn per annum.

Every $1 invested by a nation in a school lunch programme returns $3-$10 from improved health and education (World Food Programme).

Investment in New Zealand’s food industry, agriculture and rural development through the supply of fresh, local, seasonal produce to feed and nourish our children.

Generation of regional employment opportunities. Employing local kiwis.

Reduction of environmental waste. A school lunch produces on average three pieces of plastic per lunch per day, 25kg child/ per annum.