About the funding#

Lunches for children up to 10,000 children, aged 2 to 5 in eligible early learning services have been delivered since March 2025. This followed the Cabinet announcement on 15 April 2024. You can see the paper on the page below.

Healthy School Lunches information releases

Based on the features outlined in the Cabinet paper, the funding would be provided to a not-for-profit organisation with:

• existing relationships
• logistical delivery networks
• nutritional acumen and other proven expertise to manage the purchase and distribution of food ingredients to low equity early learning services.

A conditional grant was provided to KidsCan Charitable Trust to manage the ECE Food Programme during 2025 and 2026.

ECE Food for Kids Programme – KidsCan

About the ECE Food Programme#

The ECE Food Programme began on 31 March 2025. Early learning services came on board a staged approach in 2025 and 2026 to delivery lunch to up to 10,000 children.

On 15 May 2026, Budget 2026 provided funding for the ECE Food Programme to continue in 2027. 

Healthy School Lunch Programme saves more money – Beehive.govt.nz

Supplier procurement for 2027 ECE Food Programme#

In line with government procurement rules, we are going to market to strengthen this important programme and make sure quality lunches are delivered in the way that works best for early learning services. 

The ECE Food Programme request for proposals (RFP) has been released through the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS).

Suppliers and meal providers can respond to the RFP on the GETS website.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Food Programme – GETS

Procurement process and timeline#

15 June 2026

RFP released on GETS.

17 July 2026

RFP closes on GETS.

July and August 2026

Evaluation, provider presentations and negotiation.

September 2026

Provider announced.

25 January 2027 

Contract starts.

Contact us#

If you have any questions about the RFP, contact us through GETS.