Tēnā koutou katoa
Welcome to issue 5 of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako pānui.
As we near the end of Term 3, I’m pleased the school lunches programme has been able to provide warm and nourishing meals across the motu during this latest cold spell.
One of my favourite stories from the past few days comes from the Ka Ora, Ka Ako team who was out visiting our programme schools in Levin last week. When they asked a student at Levin East School what their favourite part of the school day was, they were told ‘eating lunch!’.
I hope that you find as much enjoyment in the school lunches as our students at Levin East do.
Have a great end to your week.
Nāku noa, nā
Andrew Gibson
Director – Strategic Programmes
Te Pae Aronui (Operations and Integration)
Contributing primary schools in 2026#
From Term 1, 2026 all participating contributing primary schools will move to the cost-efficient school lunches model.
Last week, we emailed resources to help you communicate the transition to your community. The nutrition standards will not change, and we have started offering support to meal providers.
Internal model#
We’re hosting 2 online information sessions to provide practical guidance for meal preparation and tips for the transition to the $4 per meal price point (excluding GST) from Term 1, 2026.
You only need to attend 1 session. Both include the same content.
- Online information session on 21 August 2025 (today) from 3:30 to 4pm: Register here.
- Online information session on 26 August 2025 from 10am to 10:30am: Register here.
Iwi and hapū model#
As an iwi and hapū contributing primary school or kura, moving to the cost-efficient model, your meal provider will receive $4 per student, per meal.
We are supporting your provider with cost-effective recipes and budgeting guidance to make sure your students continue to receive nutritious lunches every school day.
External model#
We know some contributing primary schools and kura have deep and strong relationships with your school lunch suppliers. It is a difficult space to be in while we wait for the RFP decision on who the supplier(s) will be from Term 1, 2026.
The tender closes at 10am on Thursday 21 August. Once the RFP closes, a robust evaluation, shortlisting, and negotiation process will follow.
Together, as a team, we can navigate this transition to the cost-efficient model and continue to focus on providing meals to your students.
Regular updates will be in this pānui or follow on our website.
For more support or questions about the transition, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor or email us.
Email: [email protected]
Small and isolated funding update#
If your school is receiving small and isolated funding, an update is available here.
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, national events such as AIMS games. 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.
Food safety reminder#
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. Contact immediately your supplier or Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor and we will arrange for the meal 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.
Food recalls#
As is standard in the food industry, we had 2 third-party product recalls last week that the team worked quickly to notify meal providers across the programme. These were:
- Pams 500g butter with a best-before date of 4 December 2025 product level recall
- Original Foods trade level recall of hidden vege brownie batch number 36896.
We appreciate how quickly schools responded to our notifications. If you have any questions, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor or email us.
Email: [email protected]
Termly surveys#
The Term 2 2025 survey was optional, and responses were received from 41% of schools across the programme.
From Term 3 2025, the survey is compulsory for all schools, which will help address gaps in the data and provide a more fulsome and balanced picture of the survey results across all delivery models.
The Term 3 2025 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.
High level information from the Terms 2 and 3 surveys will 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 Indutries (MPI) to reduce the number of categories in the ordering portal for special dietary meals.
We're doing this to minimise unnecessary labelling requirements on special dietary meals, helping to reduce risks for students. Together, we have refined the category list to 15 from 34.
The SLC is streamlining its ordering portal and will be updating special dietary orders in time for Term 4, specifically for students with allergies, intolerances, or ethical and religious requirements, rather than for those with taste preferences. Soon, we will be asking schools and kura to check that current student needs are still correct.
Food items that will never be used in meals will be listed in the SLC ordering portal and published menus on the website.
Contact the SLC from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday or email us.
Phone: 0800 586 243
Email: [email protected]
Internal model update#
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.
Previously, this survey was optional. From Term 3, it will be a full requirement to complete and return the termly survey. The surplus workshop is finished, but there will be another one in Term 4. You must count surplus meals at your school and any receiving school 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 (last day of term).
If you need assistance, contact your Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor.
Snack-sized school stories: Horowhenua College and Levin East School#
The Ka Ora, Ka Ako team visited several schools across the Horowhenua region last week.
Horowhenua College, the oldest school in the area, is an internal head school providing lunches to Levin East and Levin North Schools, as well as to its own students. The cook responsible for making over 2,000 meals each school day, Anja, says an important focus for her is keeping lunch waste to a minimum. This is achieved by giving carrot ends to local ponies, using leftovers in new recipes, asking students which meals they like best, and offering seconds to students who are still hungry.
Levin East School, the largest primary school in Levin with a roll of approximately 430 students, has the same success with lunch waste as its meal provider. Anja makes meals that can be portioned like wraps and pizzas, so that smaller appetites can eat some at lunch and leftovers later.
Iwi and hapū providers model update#
New Ka Ora, Ka Ako senior advisor#
The Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme team warmly welcomes new Senior Advisor Anahera Palmer onboard!
Before joining the team, Anahera worked for the Iwi o Ngati Porou as a restorative justice kaimahi. Her role supported administration and wellbeing, as well as pakeke nutrition services with ACC and other organisations.
Anahera is currently studying a Bachelor of Business Management degree at Massey University. She lives in Ruatoria with her partner, and where her whānau are all community kaimahi. Anahera says she takes inspiration from her parents who are both volunteer firefighters on the East Coast.
Anahera has started in her role with the Ministry of Education this week and will be introduced to kura in the coming weeks.
