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Schools slash lunch orders as meals go uneaten

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2025

Two big Auckland schools are slashing the number of free lunches they are receiving under the government’s new system because students are not eating them.

But they have different views of whether the reduction is a good thing – one says students deserve better food, while the other says the lunches are for the students who need them most.

The schools’ lunches were provided by the School Lunch Collective, which won the contract to provide free lunches to 466 schools with students in Year 7 and above this year.

Aorere College principal Leanne Webb said the switch to the collective started off “okay-ish”, despite a few problems such as damaged food containers.

“But then that stopped, and for the last eight days in a row we’ve had food that has been produced by Pita Pit. Now it’s not Pita Pit as you would recognise it at a Pita Pit shop. They’ve been subcontracted to produce this food, but it’s awful. It’s awful.

“We’ve had bread rolls with sloppy coleslaw inside, a tiny vegetarian patty, or one tiny piece of meat inside it, and and then the next day it’s the same filling, but it’s a different carbohydrate. So it might be a wrap the next day with that same stuff and then the next day it might be a pita pocket with the same stuff in it. How many days in a row can you eat this? Yesterday it was two bits of thick white bread with the same sloppy mixture inside.

“And we ring and we complain but nobody ever gets back to us.

“As a society, we need to ask ourselves, is it acceptable to be producing poor quality food? Many countries in the world provide lunches for their students, but in New Zealand there seems to be condemnation that some people don’t have enough money to provide lunches. But it’s routine in the UK and in Scandinavian countries for students to get school lunches. Our kids need them.”

Webb said too much food was being wasted so the school reduced its order.

“They were giving us 1500 and there was huge waste. We cut it back to 1000 and then we still had waste and so we’d cut it back to 800,” she said.

“Of those 800 we’re getting, we have very little waste.”

Otahuhu College principal Neil Watson said his school would reduce its order because only about half its students were eating the lunches.

He said that was fine because the lunches were reaching the students who needed them.

“From our perspective they’re doing the job they were set out to do which is provide food for those students who need it,” he said.

He said whether students liked the lunches was “almost irrelevant”.

“It’s like when we were at school with our school lunches. You had a marmite and cheese sandwiches and things like that and you ate them because you were hungry. Mightn’t have been your first choice and I think that’s what’s happening with these school lunches.”

Watson said the school received 900 lunches each day last year, but that was now down to 700 and the school would probably reduce that figure to 600.

The collective’s website featured glowing comments – all from students at Awatapu College in Palmerston North.

School principal Gary Yeatman told RNZ the comments were from a trial last year, but generally students were eating the meals and he had no plan to reduce the number of lunches.

“We serve around 900 students here each day. We also have to work on the fact that at any one time there might be five percent away,” he said.

“Any given day depending on what’s being served the wastage can change a little bit. What we are currently doing if we do have food items left, we’re giving them to a local charity for them to pass on so while it might be wastage at a school level, from a community level there’s nothing going to waste.”

Yeatman said the biggest problem was distributing the meals.

He said the meals previously arrived in a form where one box of meals was sufficient for one class, but now each box contained sufficient meals for one-and-a-half classes.

“We actually have to get them in, divide them up so that we’ve got the right number for each class and then get them off to class. So we’ve actually employed someone now part-time to help with that,” he said.

“And I have a member of my senior management team who also assists with that so it can up thirty minutes to an hour of his time.”

The School Lunch Collective’s website said it provided lunches to about 130,000 students each day, but the Education Ministry told RNZ it was providing about 125,200 lunches each day during the past week and a half.

The ministry said the number of lunches sent to schools was previously based on their attendance patterns, but this year schools were using an online portal to order two weeks ahead based on attendance and dietary requirements for students each day.

“This allows for the number and type of meals delivered to be adjusted based on planned activities, such as school trips, teacher only days, or when students attend regular classes offsite. Under all iterations of the school lunch programme, managing waste has been a key focus,” it said.

“We would expect schools to adjust their information in the portal throughout the school year based on roll numbers, dietary requirements, and attendance. Schools do not need to provide a reason for adjusting their information in the portal. We are not aware of any schools cancelling their lunch order since the start of Term 1, 2025.”

The School Lunch Collective told RNZ about 15 Auckland schools were receiving Pita Pit meals.

“The number of schools receiving the Pita Pit meals are being rotated every few weeks to ensure there is variation in the menu. The number of schools receiving Pita Pit varies depending on role sizes at the schools that receive the meals – however for example, you could say it’s around 15 schools receive the 10,000 meals in Auckland,” it said.

Associate education minister David Seymour said one of the benefits of the new model was that schools could manage meal numbers and dietary requirements themselves.

“The priority for the school lunches programme must be delivering lunches to students in need, at a cost affordable to the taxpayer. It’s encouraging that schools are using the new portal to update details to reduce waste.”

rnz

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz