Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome to August and issue 4 of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Pānui.
As we reach mid-term and while the months are colder, it's nice to know that learners are receiving warm and nutritious lunches through the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme.
This pānui brings you timely updates about food safety, term surveys, and the 2026 transition process for those schools who are contributing primary.
This pānui is divided into sections according to the lunch delivery model.
You can navigate easily through sections by using the topic menu and clicking on which sections you would like to read. If you have any questions regarding any matter in this area, or would like more support, please reach out to your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor or email us.
Email: [email protected]
Nāku noa, nā
Andrew Gibson
Director – Strategic Programmes
Te Pae Aronui (Operations and Integration)
Contributing primary schools in 2026#
External model schools#
Last week, we hosted a briefing for suppliers interested in submitting an application under the Request for Proposal (RFP) to deliver lunches to around 196 contributing primary schools under the external model for the 2026 school year. The supplier briefing was well-attended, with 69 people coming online to ask questions, confirm their understanding of the process, and learn more. The RFP closes on 21 August.
RFP questions can be emailed or submitted on the GETS website.
Email: [email protected]
Healthy School Lunches: Contributing primary schools 2026 – GETS
Answers to all RFP questions are published on GETS.
Internal model schools#
Online information sessions for internal model contributing primary schools (Years 0-6)
We’re hosting 2 online information sessions to support internal model contributing primary schools (Years 0-6). These sessions will provide practical guidance and updates on the transition to the cost-efficient model, including the $4 per student, per meal price point from Term 1, 2026.
Online information sessions:
- Thursday 21 August, 3:30pm–4pm
- Tuesday 26 August, 10am–10:30am.
An invitation will be emailed to you directly.
Regular updates will be in this pānui or follow on our website.
Email us direct questions about the transition.
Email: [email protected]
Termly surveys#
Thank you for completing the Term 2 survey. Your feedback is valued and helps us understand what matters most to you. Your responses tell us how best to support your school, kura and lunch supplier.
In response to the feedback received this term, we’re offering several training workshops:
- Introductory business continuity planning (BCP) workshop on Tuesday 19 August at 3:30pm
- 10-day surplus and waste reporting workshop on Wednesday 13 August at 3pm.
You can read more about these on Mahi Tahi.
Workshops – Ka Ora, Ka Ako website
The Term 3 survey will be 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.
Food safety reminders#
Keep meals and foreign objects#
In the unlikely event of a food safety incident occurring at your school, remind students of the importance of keeping the meal and any foreign object to help in the investigation.
Label the food and foreign object and put everything in the fridge to prevent further contamination or decomposition. We will arrange for the meal or item to be picked up. Do not throw anything away.
Protect meals#
Food needs to always be protected from potential contamination.
If food is being uncovered for meal service, provide a safe space, free from airborne contaminants or overhead structures that could drop contaminants onto food.
School Lunch Collective update#
Eden Park career day#
On Friday 1 August, a group of students toured the Eden Park stadium commercial kitchen — where their own school lunches are made — to see first-hand what it takes to feed thousands of hungry learners. After the kitchen tour, they enjoyed their usual school lunch (heated in the Eden Park kitchen) from a room overlooking the field. After lunch has a VIP tour of the stadium and explored a range of career pathways at Eden Park, including roles in hospitality and event operations.
To add to this unique experience, Eden Park donated Auckland vs Waikato NPC tickets for students and their caregivers to attend the match, the night before.
The SLC is looking to repeat the VIP production kitchen and stadium tour at Eden Park as well as in Dunedin. SLC also have a production kitchen at the Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin. If you have students where this would be of interest to them, please reach out to your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor.
Specialty dietary meals#
We’re collaborating closely with the School Lunch Collective (SLC) and MPI to minimise unnecessary labelling requirements on special dietary meals, helping to reduce risks for students. The SLC is streamlining its ordering portal and will be asking for your support in coming weeks to update special dietary orders — specifically for students with allergies, intolerances, or ethical and religious requirements, rather than for those with taste preferences.
To identify students with preferences to eat speciality meals, rather than with allergies, intolerances, or ethical and religious requirements we suggest you connect directly with your school community. This could be at parent teacher interviews or through school text messaging.
Surplus reduction review#
The SLC is working closely with schools identified as having a higher-than-average meal surplus. Together, we’re supporting efforts to better align meal orders with actual student attendance and uptake.
A tailored surplus reduction plan is being developed with each school that’s keen to partner with the SLC. These collaborations aim to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and ensure meals are going where they’re most needed.
Distribution funding grant reminder#
A reminder that the distribution funding grant applications close on August 15.
All eligible schools have been contacted to apply for distribution funding for Terms 3 and 4, 2025. Schools will be contacted to reapply for distribution funding prior to Term 1 for the full 2026 year.
More information is available on our website.
Distribution funding – Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme
Contact us with any questions
Email: [email protected]
Internal model update#
Gilmours#
The cost-effective recipes and 2-week menu samples are now aligned with the Term 3 pantry product price lists supplied by Gilmours. These resources are now available on Mahi Tahi.
Cost effective menu and recipes Ka Ora, Ka Ako website
Workshops reminder#
There are several workshops available this term to support your mahi in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme ranging from financial reporting to business continuity planning. For a full list of offerings, see Mahi Tahi.
Workshops – Ka Ora, Ka Ako website
10-day surplus lunch count#
Each term 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.
You must count surplus meals at each school and kura you supply for a 10-day period. The Term 3 survey will be sent out on Monday 1 September. All participating schools are required to complete it by Friday 19 September 2025 (last day of term).
If you need assistance, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor.
Iwi and hapū providers model update#
New iwi and hapū Senior Delivery Manager#
We are thrilled to welcome Claudia Maaka into the role of Ka Ora, Ka Ako Senior Delivery Manager (SDM) for iwi and hapū model kura.
Claudia, who has been with the Ministry of Education since 2018 in various positions across the motu, accepted her appointment as SDM because of her lifelong focus ‘for Māori, by Māori’.
Claudia says, ‘I believe it’s our responsibility as Māori to step up into these spaces and opportunities to provide and support our communities and people. I took this role as SDM for iwi and hapū because I have a responsibility to my tipuna to make sure I am a part of paving the pathway of mauri and hauora for our next generation.’
Claudia explains her commitment to the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme, ‘Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora te manuhiri - with your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.’
Workshops reminder#
There are several workshops available this term to support your mahi in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme.
- An online Introductory Business Continuity Planning workshop is available on Tuesday 19 August at 3:30pm.
- There is an online Introductory Waste Management workshop taking place on Tuesday 2 September at 3:30pm.
To attend any of these workshops, RSVP by email (cc. your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor) with your name, position, and the name of your school or kura. A calendar appointment with a link to the Teams meeting will be sent to you.
Email: [email protected]
For a full list of offerings, visit the website.
