Contributing primary schools – external model#

After a robust and transparent selection (RFP) process, 10 suppliers across New Zealand will provide lunches to 188 external model contributing primary schools in the Healthy School Lunches programme from Term 1, 2026.

Each of the 10 suppliers have been providing meals in the programme for some time and bring the experience, systems, and proven track record to deliver nutritious lunches that works for schools and students enjoy.

The 10 suppliers are:

Approach price points for Term 1, 2026#

At the start of Term 1, 2026, the weighted average per meal cost will be $3.46 for external model suppliers to contributing primaries. Supplier price points range from $3 to $5 depending on the unique parameters of their region, such as the travel distance to remote schools, the roll size and whether costs can be saved from delivering to multiple schools in the area.

Suppliers to contributing primary schools#

Appresso Pro Foods

A proudly whānau-based business driven by strong values and a belief that good kai fuels brighter futures. With the capacity to produce at scale without compromising on taste or nutrition, Appresso Pro Foods leads with quality, consistency, and care using sustainable packaging and waste management systems that respect both our people and our planet.

Montana Group

Montana Group is recognised as an industry leader with over two decades experience in food service and delivery. A trusted Healthy School Lunches provider since the programme's inception, they operate purpose-built production facilities in Auckland and Waikato and have a proven track record in large-scale school lunch delivery.

Ka Pai Kai Aotearoa

Ka Pai Kai Aotearoa, founded in 2017 as Ka Pai Kai Rotorua, is a not-for-profit organisation grounded in Tikanga Māori values, dedicated to providing kai | food and transforming the way tamariki | children view healthy food. Guided by manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, our dedicated local teams freshly prepare kai and deliver it to our schools, supporting learning and strengthening connections to communities and our shared responsibility of caring for one another. Ka Pai Kai Aotearoa continues its commitment to transforming how tamariki experience and understand healthy kai through the school lunches programme, supporting kura across the Waiariki | Bay of Plenty region.

KDJ Catering Limited

KDJ Catering offers a systematic approach, done in collaboration with students and schools, to menu planning, creating a fresh menu each term that follows a 2-week cycle of yummy dishes that help keep students focused to learn.

The YMCA Gisborne

The Y’s focus is to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. There is no better way to do this than through the providing nutritious lunches at school. The Y works to reduce inequalities and create life-enhancing opportunities for the growth and development of people in body, mind, and spirit.

Knuckles

They believe that great food starts with fresh, seasonal ingredients, which is what is used for every school lunch made.

Café Mahia

This small local café goes the extra mile, sometimes literally. When floods close the roads, they still find a way to deliver lunches to two isolated schools. For them, it’s bigger than business. It’s about manaakitanga, giving back, and making sure ākonga | learners have the kai they need to learn.

Star Fresh

Providing nutritious, delicious meals, making sure students are well-fed and ready to learn. Star Fresh is committed to connecting communities through great food and service.

University of Canterbury Student Association (UCSA)

The UCSA provide healthy lunches to the next generation of New Zealanders to help students to learn and thrive.

Pita Pita and Subway

Pita Pit New Zealand is proud to lead a consortium dedicated to delivering fresh, nutritious meals to students across Aotearoa. In partnership with Subway and Bidfood, we are united in continuing more than 8 years’ experience within the Healthy School Lunches programme, and by a shared belief: when young people are empowered to make better food choices, great things happen.

Subway New Zealand has been serving fresh and customised meals for over 30 years through a network of more than 250 locally owned and operated restaurants. Proudly participating in the Healthy School Lunches programme, Subway supports healthy food access for school children while partnering with local suppliers to ensure high-quality ingredients and a commitment to sustainability across its nationwide operations.

Support and information#

Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisors and the school lunches mailbox are available to support schools throughout the transition.

Email: [email protected]

For more information and a map view of the contributing primary school regions for the external suppliers, see our website.

Contributing primary schools

Newly eligible schools join the programme#

Every year, when the Equity Index is reviewed, the 25% of students who need the support provided through the Healthy School Lunches programme are added and we work with these schools to find the best model for them.

This term has seen the start of 6 new schools in the programme across the country, including 3 schools in the Chatham Islands. This addition underscores the expansiveness and distinctiveness of school lunches, and the critical issue of food insecurity that it targets. The new schools we’ve welcome onboard are:

• Pitt Island School (Chatham Islands)
• Te One School (Chatham Islands)
• Kaingaroa School (Chatham Islands)
• Springdale School
• Tangiteroria School
• Te Rito – Te Kura Taiao (Cable Bay, Mangōnui).

Deliverables survey for Term 1, 2026#

In preparation for a successful start to the new school year in 2026, the deliverables survey came out earlier than usual this year with the goal of supporting you as well as we can by being prepared.

The information gathered through the deliverables survey will inform how we tailor our support to your school and kura and supplier (if applicable) to make sure we are all ready for Term 1, 2026. Ask your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor for support in getting this completed and back to us soon.

Reminder: don’t forget to adjust your meal orders#

Term 4 there is a particularly busy time, with exams, study leave, and education outside the classroom. If lunches are not required by your school on a specific day or you know your order will be different than usual, let your supplier know. Plan ahead and make the required changes to upcoming lunch order variation with your supplier or meal provider. This will also avoid the unnecessary surplus of meals.

Food safety reminder#

Keep meals and foreign objects#

It is essential to remember that 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 more contamination or decomposition. Immediately contact your supplier or Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor and we will arrange for the meal and/or item to be picked up. Do not throw anything away.

Protect meals#

Food needs to be always 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.

Term 4 survey coming soon#

The Term 4 surveys will be emailed to all programme suppliers, partners, schools, and kura in week 7.

Ikura reminder#

As we reach mid-term and getting closer to Christmas holidays, remember to make sure you have enough stocks for your menstruating students to take home over the holidays.

No menstruating student should miss out on opportunities because they do not have period products. Ikura free period products are available in schools to support these students throughout their entire cycle.

All schools can access Ikura period products by emailing us.

Email: [email protected]

If your school is already with the Ikura programme, to order more period products, contact your OfficeMax representative or email them.

Email: [email protected]

School Lunch Collective model update#

Recycling update#

As sustainability plays an integral role in the Healthy School Lunches programme, the School Lunch Collective (SLC) is recycling the aluminium food trays used to package meals across the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and Auckland regions.

At the central recycling facility, food waste is separated from the trays before the aluminium is cleaned and recycled. The food waste is collected and transferred for processing into organic fertiliser.

The SLC plans to bring schools in more regions into the recycling programme in the coming weeks.

In the news: Te Puke driver’s 340km daily mission feeding Bay of Plenty schoolkids#

Read about Te Puke’s Nic Te Kotahi, who travels more than 340km each day delivering lunches to schools across the Bay of Plenty, from Tōrere to Mamaku in the Bay of Plenty Times (18 October 2025).

For any support from SLC#

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#

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 all 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

Workshops in Term 4#

Online Introductory Waste Management Planning Workshop

This workshop, scheduled on Tuesday 18 November from 3:30 to 4pm, goes through the basics on waste management planning including developing a simple waste management plan and where to access resources.

To attend, RSVP to [email protected] (cc. your senior advisor) with your name and the name of your school and kura.

Contributing primary internal model schools#

With the change in price point from 2026, you may have questions or need extra support. Contact your Ka Ora Ka Ako senior advisor.

Helpful resources are also available on our website.

Cost effective menu and recipes – Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme

Iwi and hapū providers model update#

Workshops in Term 4#

Online Introductory Waste Management Planning Workshop

This workshop, scheduled on Tuesday 18 November from 3.30 to 4pm, goes through the basics on waste management planning including developing a simple waste management plan and where to access resources.

We encourage your Iwi hapū provider to attend this workshop. They can RSVP by email.

Email: [email protected]