Tēnā koutou katoa
As Matariki begins, we take the time to acknowledge the year that has gone by and prepare for the one ahead. Matariki mā Puanga recognises both the Matariki (Pleiades) and Puanga (Rigel) stars as heralds of the Māori New Year, acknowledging that different iwi and regions mark Te Mātahi o te Tau by observing either or both stars. This year’s theme emphasises inclusivity, unity, and pause - celebrating together - and is deeply connected to food and nutrition, reflecting on the past year’s harvest, celebrating the present bounty, and planning for the year ahead. Matariki is a reminder of the relationship between our holistic health to the environment and includes though is not solely how we need to eat kai that helps us thrive and learn.
We will share updates with you throughout the year to keep you informed on all school models taking part in the school lunch programme.
A few weeks ago, I visited Freyberg High School in Palmerston North, who are an internal model school. I was impressed to hear how Freyberg has adapted the programme to suit its students’ needs and underscored how connection between school and community provides opportunity and stability. I appreciated them sharing with me the financial challenges being faced by this school and plans to overcome current shortfalls.
The team and I are visiting schools regularly and incorporating what we learn into helping all participants maximise the programme’s benefits at their schools.
I have noticed a positive change this term with the way all delivery models are adapting to the new programme and in the survey coming out this week, I would be interested to hear about how students have adapted to the changes this year.
As always, if you have any questions or would like more support, please reach out to your Senior Advisor or email us.
Email: [email protected]
Wishing you a very Mānawatia a Matariki.
Andrew
Programme Director
Matariki reminder#
Over the course of Matariki, we know that schools and kura often prepare special kai for students and their communities. If you are hosting a special Matariki event when you’ll be organising your own meals for a particular day, remember to notify your school lunch supplier ahead of time to reduce unnecessary surplus and waste.
Term 2 survey#
You received the online Term 2 survey earlier this week, and we would appreciate it if you would take the time to complete it. It’s important for us to know how the implementation of school lunches in Term 2 went so that your thoughts and observations will help us improve the programme going forward.
Waste and surplus meals#
Reducing waste and surplus meals are an important focus for the programme and we have found the most sustainable way is for schools to order meals based on attendance. We know waste also occurs due to taste preferences of students, and your feedback helps meal providers adjust their menus to minimise leftovers.
The Term 2 survey comes out this week and includes a question about surplus meals for your school. The supplier survey also being released this week includes a question about the 10-day waste weight.
We would also like to hear about any new innovations you or your supplier are doing around waste. If of interest, the School Lunch Collective is planning an Enviro Waste trial in which leftover food is sent to an EcoGas NZ facility to become biofuel. More information to follow about this.
School Lunch Collective model update#
Term 3 menu#
Earlier this week, the School Lunch Collective (SLC) hosted a series of interactive taste-testing to trial seven tasty new meal options for the Term 3 menus. Thank you to the schools in Taranaki, Palmerston North, Wairarapa, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Bay of Plenty that nominated students to be taste-testers. The result was 73% of students provided positive ratings for the new meals. The results are now being analysed and will be built into the Term 3 menu.
Parent community#
We have been talking to the School Lunch Collective about the opportunity for whānau visiting the school or kura to try some of the meals being delivered to their children.
If your school is hosting parent interviews, sports days, or another event involving your parent community and you would like the opportunity for them to test the lunches, please let us know.
Due to the logistics and cost involved, this would be a one-off event for a selection of schools or kura. Get in touch with us by email if this is of interest and let us know how this would benefit your school community.
Meal production#
The School Lunch Collective has so far delivered just over 9 million meals since the start of Term 1.
This term, the Central Manufacturing Unit (Compass) is exceeding the target of the number of daily meals required for the size of the school lunches programme. The SLC are on target to have one million meals in storage by the end of this term, and two million will be packed away and ready for distribution by the start of Term 3.
Delivery on time update#
Over Term 2, the SLC has delivered over 98% of meals across the country to school on time and in full.
With winter arriving there will be road closure in some regions and roadworks can be a problem with getting meal to schools on time for lunch. The production kitchens can also experience some problems with equipment of the late arrival of meals. When this happens the SLC will contact you to let you know.
If you have any queries about this, you can contact the SLC from 9.00am-3.00pm Monday to Friday.
Phone: 0800 586 243
Email: [email protected]
Internal model school update#
Workshops#
An online Introductory Business Continuity Planning Workshop is taking place on Tuesday 17 June at 3.30 pm. If you would like to attend and haven’t already registered, please RSVP by email.
Email: [email protected]
The next Gilmours online update session will be held on Thursday 24 July at 3.30pm. Invites will be sent out before the end of this term.
Gilmours and Trents Term 2 price lists#
A reminder that the Gilmours and Trents Term 2 price lists are now available on the Ka Ora Ka Ako website.
End of term financial reporting#
Another reminder for you to submit your end of term reports. If you need support, contact your Senior Advisor in the first instance. Completing your report makes it easier for us to support your school and kura. Through data collection, we can better understand how the internal model is tracking for you and make informed decisions about future planning.
Outstanding menus#
If you have not already done so, submit your Term 2 menu (and Term 1 menu if outstanding), to [email protected]
Spotlight: Creative budgeting#
Many of our schools and kura are using innovative and creative ways to bolster the meals served at lunchtime. A member of the kura whānau at Te Kura Taumata o Panguru planted and cares for a large vegetable garden at the school. The kai grown in the garden is used in the school lunch programme, reducing food costs and making meals varied and tasty.
Iwi/hapū model#
Workshops#
An online Introductory Business Continuity Planning Workshop is taking place on Tuesday 17 June at 3.30 pm.
If you would like to attend and haven’t already registered, RSVP to [email protected].
The next Gilmours online update session will be held on Thursday 24 July at 3.30pm. Invites will be sent out before the end of this term.
Gilmours and Trents Term 2 price lists#
A reminder that the Gilmours and Trents Term 2 price lists are now available on the Ka Ora Ka Ako website.
Costing wanānga#
A workshop was held in the Te Tairawhiti region where our kai providers learned about meal costings, funding inclusions, and strategies for budgeting effectively to meet the needs of the students, hapori, and the programme.
The workshop included a good balance of both theory and practice, and the kōrero throughout enabled participants to share personal strategies, experiences and ideas that explored such things as why costs can blow out and how to prevent that from happening, and ways to incorporate natural resources such as maara kai.
Following the workshop, the participants created their own supportive community chat page to keep connected, continue building whakawhanaungatanga, and most importantly, support one another with kōrero, ideas, and encouragement.
