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How the internal delivery model works#
In the internal delivery model, lunches are delivered to students in their own school. Schools in this model can also be a meal provider to other schools in their region.
Some schools have a mixed or hybrid model. For example, they provide their own lunches and use another meal provider on different days of the week.
The internal partnership model#
The internal partnership model is where an internal model school (head school) prepares lunches for another local school (receiving school).
The head school manages the end-to-end provision of lunches for the receiving school.
The head school must meet the minimum requirements for nutrition, health and safety. They are paid directly by us.
What is required to be an internal model school#
Internal model schools must meet nutrition standards and health and safety requirements, including registering a Food Control Plan.
There are significant costs and setup processes involved with an internal model. Schools must have the facilities and capability to:
- procure ingredients
- manage a kitchen and staff
- plan menus
- make school lunches in-house.
Responsibilities include:
- setup and maintenance of a suitable kitchen
- registering and monitoring a food control plan
- understanding nutritional standards
- meeting finance and reporting requirements
- staff management
- waste management.
While the internal model works well for some schools, it is not a suitable option for all schools.
Waste and surplus#
Internal model schools manage their own waste and surplus.
You can read about waste and surplus for the programme.
About waste and surplus management for the programme
Waste and surplus resources for meal providers for the internal model and iwi hapū delivery model
Funding and agreements#
Internal model schools are funded directly by us and sign a funding agreement.
Funding framework#
School lunch funding for internal schools is based on the March 1 school roll size and the average number of lunches delivered.
Schools with 126 students or more
- Funding is provided at 90%, even if the number of lunches delivered is less.
- If both the average number of students attending school and the average number of lunches delivered exceed 90% across a term, payment will be made on a per student basis.
Schools with 125 students or fewer
Funding is provided at 100%, regardless of the number of lunches delivered.
Purpose of the funding framework
This funding framework was introduced in Term 2 2026 to:
- align internal model schools with other lunch delivery models, which are funded per-student per-meal basis.
- allow schools to receive the funding they need to provide lunches to students each school day. Our analysis shows most schools deliver lunches to fewer than 90% of their total roll
- support small internal schools unable to achieve cost efficiencies
- support the long-term sustainability of the Healthy School Lunches programme.
More funding information#
Find more information about the number of schools and students in each model.
Schools and students for each delivery model
Information about funding for the internal model is also available.
Internal model head school funding resources
Automated funding for internal model schools and kura
Resources for the internal model#
You can find resources for the internal model under the supplier section of our website here:
