Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome to issue 6 of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako pānui.
We are almost at the end of another school term and over 29 million meals have been delivered across the programme so far this year.
Having dedicated my entire career to the food industry, I recognise the value of healthy meals. Our shared focus to delivering nutritious meals to students who need it most in our communities is essential to helping them to thrive and learn at school.
As we move through Term 3, signs of meal-fatigue are emerging. It’s understandable how tempting it can be to go off-menu and introduce less nutritious options to add variety at this point in the year. It’s important we stay focused on delivering meals that nourish and energise students especially during this time of year.
As with each issue, news, stories, and updates from across the motu are available in one compact pānui, connecting all models of the programme together.
You can read the model update specific to you or the whole programme. Use the anchor links in the right-hand menu to click on the section you want to read.
Thank you for the support you provide to students and to the programme to deliver lunch every school day.
Nāku noa, nā
Andrew Gibson
Director – Strategic Programmes
Te Pae Aronui (Operations and Integration)
Contributing primary schools in 2026 (external supplier)#
The Request for Proposals (RFP) from suppliers seeking to provide lunches to external model schools and kura closed on 21 August 2025 and 30 proposals were received.
The procurement team is currently evaluating submissions and working towards providing the announcement in late October of supplier/s to deliver lunch to contributing primary schools in 2026.
Regular updates will be in this pānui or follow on our website.
If you have any questions about the procurement process, email us.
Email: [email protected]
Small and isolated funding update#
If your school is receiving small and isolated funding, an update is available in the link below.
Funding for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme
Keep your meal ordering updated#
If lunches are not required by your school on a specific day or you know your order will be different than usual, due to a weather event, industrial action, exams and study leave. Let your supplier know. This helps avoid preparing and delivering more meals than needed, which can lead to unnecessary surplus and food waste at your school. As soon as you know of an upcoming order variation, update your ordering information or contact your supplier directly to update your requirements.
If you have any questions, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor or email us.
Email: [email protected]
Term 3 2025 survey#
From Term 3 2025, the termly survey is compulsory for all schools, which will help address gaps in the information received and provide a more balanced picture of the survey results across all delivery models.
The Term 3 2025 survey was sent out on Monday 1 September. All participating schools are required to complete it by Friday 19 September (last day of term). If you need assistance, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor.
High level information from the 2025 termly surveys is expected to be made available in Term 4, 2025.
School Lunch Collective model update#
Special dietary meals#
We have been working closely with the School Lunch Collective (SLC) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to improve the portal-based ordering process for special dietary meals. This includes students with allergies, intolerances, or ethical and religious requirements.
SLC’s processes have been improved to minimise unnecessary administration for you when ordering special dietary meals. By improving their systems, SLC are decreasing the risks of mistakes being made, meaning that students with dietary needs are safer.
Schools that have students with special dietary needs would have received an email from the SLC on Friday 29 August and a request to review a pre-populated template with student requirements.
To learn exactly how these process improvements are going to work going forward, together with SLC, we are offering information sessions via webinar this week to schools with students’ individual dietary requirements:
- Thursday from 1pm to 1.30pm. Special dietaries webinar #1
- Thursday from 3.30pm to 4pm. Special dietaries webinar #2
- Friday from 10.30am to 11am. Special dietaries webinar #3.
For support#
Contact SLC during business hours.
Phone: 0800 586 243
Email: [email protected]
In addition, you can contact your Ka Ora Ka Ako senior advisor or your area manager at the SLC.
Internal model update#
Last reminder: 10-day surplus lunch count#
Termly, we ask you to include the number of surplus lunches you have each school day in the end-of-term supplier survey. Surplus lunch is a complete and untouched meal left over after lunch service is finished.
From Term 3 2025, it will be a mandatory requirement to complete and return the termly survey. It is no longer optional. You must count surplus meals at your school and any receiving school you supply for a 10-day period. The Term 3 2025 survey was sent out on Monday 1 September to all participating schools. It must be completed by Friday 19 September (last day of term).
If you need assistance, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor.
There will be a surplus workshop in Term 4. Check this pānui for dates and times.
Reminder: nutrition standards#
Nutritious meals are an essential part of helping students to learn and thrive every school day.
To reinforce the importance of nutritional benefits in food, standards are set out for our providers to follow when making meals. The nutritional guidelines have not changed from previous iterations of the programme. These have been informed by the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Food and Drink Guidance and tailored to the unique context of the School Lunches programme.
Every meal produced by meal providers is to meet the nutritional standards and include a balance of protein, vegetables, and grains or starchy vegetables (carbohydrates).
The nutritional guidelines are the minimum weight of food for students. Our website offers a detailed breakdown of total minimum weights per meal per student by level.
Nutrition standards for Ka Ora, Ka Ako
Snack-sized school stories: Howie Bruce – acting Senior Delivery Manager#
Howie Bruce has been with the school lunches programme since it started in 2020. He is currently acting as a Service Delivery Manager for Ka Ora, Ka Ako, but originally joined the programme as a senior advisor, and helped to set up the Wellington, Manawatū, Wairarapa, and Tararua regions. He understands what schools need from firsthand experience in the field. Howie’s biggest source of learning and inspiration is his colleagues and working closely with schools.
Iwi and hapū providers model update#
Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisors in the field#
Expect visits in the coming weeks from your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisors in Wairoa and Tairawhiti. Visits to iwi and hapū partners will focus on transition, support with upcoming surveys, and meal support and assurance.
In September, more Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor visits are planned to iwi and hapū partners and kura across the motu, providing support with reduced funding kōrero, planning, survey participation, and on-the-ground support - kanohi ki te kanohi.
East Coast communities can look forward to more kanohi ki te kanohi visits from Ka Ora, Ka Ako.
