Overview#

Over 65,000 students in Years 0 to 6 across 265 contributing primary schools receive a nutritious lunch each school day to support them to engage, learn, and flourish.

From Term 1, 2026, participating contributing primary schools with meals delivered through the external, internal and iwi hapū models will receive healthy lunches for less cost.

Menu#

Schools and kura will be notified by their meal provider of the lunch menu each week.

The menu, including nutritional information and ingredient details, must be clearly displayed on the supplier’s website, accompanying resources, or labels provided with the lunch.

All meal providers are required to meet the programme nutrition standards.

Nutrition standards for Ka Ora, Ka Ako

Complex and special dietary meals

Funding for the programme#

Information on the per meal price is available on Funding for the Healthy School Lunches programme.

Funding for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme

Agreements overview#

Find out more about the agreements for each delivery model, including contributing primary schools.

Agreements Overview – Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Healthy School Lunches Programme

Delivery models#

As with other year levels, contributing primary schools adopt the lunch delivery model that best suits their needs. These models include:

• external model where meals are delivered to schools and kura by an agreed supplier
• internal model where meals are prepared onsite in school kitchens
• iwi and hapū model where local meal providers deliver meals to nearby kura.

See information on delivery models on the website.

Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches: about the programme

External delivery model#

A robust and transparent selection process identified 10 trusted suppliers across the country to deliver lunch to contributing primary schools in 2026.

The selected suppliers were the best match for these requirements for meal provision to contributing primary schools.

The key factors considered when selecting suppliers were the price point, full solution delivery, can be operational within the required timeframe, sustainable practices, adaptable ordering system, provision of data and reporting, and school relationship management.

The 10 suppliers have been part of the programme for several years and bring the experience, systems, and proven track record to deliver nutritious lunches in a way that works for schools and supply meals students enjoy eating.

Our focus remains on making sure students who need lunch receive it, while also maintaining a sustainable and cost-effective programme.

Contributing primaries on the external model will receive lunch daily from one of the following 10 suppliers.

Download the information sheet for more information about these suppliers and a detailed view of each supplier’s service area.

Internal and iwi hapū model schools and kura#

From Term 1, 2026, contributing primary schools with an internal or iwi and hapū delivery model will transition to the funding rate used by most other internal model schools and iwi hapū meal providers in the programme.

Funding for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme

Internal model#

See information for schools and kura.

Internal model schools in the Healthy School Lunches programme

Iwi and hapū model#

See information for all kura on the iwi and hapū model.

Iwi and hapū meal providers

See information for meal providers.

Resources for meal providers for the internal model and iwi and hapū delivery model

Questions#

Contact your Healthy School Lunches senior advisor or email us.

Email: [email protected]