New free lunch programme fueling tamariki into their future

Monday, 22 February 2021

Marfell Community School students Kristian Nuku, from left, Jaxon Tanner-Stills and Princell Tako-Tui are delighted with their new free school lunches.

Tamariki at Marfell Community School now have more fuel in their bellies to fire them through a day on the books thanks to a nationwide kai initiative.

The New Plymouth school is one of 40 across Taranaki, a mix of primary, intermediate and secondary, to benefit from the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme.

And the young food critics have spoken, giving Tuesday’s midday feed of burgers their stamp of approval.

When eating Tuesday’s meal, Princell Tako-Tui, nine, said it felt like he was chowing down at a restaurant.

* 365 days, eight schools, 800 lunches

The meals are provided to the school, and hundreds more across the country, as part of a Government-funded programme.

* Marfell Park rejuvenation begins**

“It’s yum and delicious,” his school-mate Kristian Nuku, 10, added.

Jaxon Tanner-Stills, 10, also expressed gratitude for the kai, saying there was a lot of it “and we get it everyday”.

The food programme has also created jobs within the community. Pictured is Marfell Community School catering lead Jocelyn Mula and catering assistant Irene Chu.

The Government-funded food programme has been offered to schools and kura across the country where students face the greatest socio-economic barriers that could affect access to education, wellbeing and achievement.

The initiative began in other parts of the country early last year and has since been rolled out to other regions, with some participating Taranaki schools receiving the lunches from this term, and others around April, depending on their chosen delivery model – either self-catered or catered.

By the end of 2021, approximately 200,000 students in around 829 schools across New Zealand will be receiving a lunch.

There is no set menu for the programme but each school and caterer must ensure meals are healthy and nutritious.

Marfell Community School principal Janet Wilson welcomed the lunches, saying they had been received favourably by the 120 tamariki and their whānau.

The school already offered students breakfast, and having now doubled-down with lunch it was guaranteed no child would go hungry, she said.

“It will help relieve some pressure on families and help our children stay focused,” she said.

Wilson said the school chose the self-catering option, which in turn created two jobs within its community.

“It’s been a great opportunity for us all.”