Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for a permanent fix to New Zealand’s School Lunch Programme.
The current contract is being delivered by provider ‘The School Lunch Collective’, after National axed the prior Ka Ako, Ka Ora programme model. This latest iteration of the school lunches programme has seen smaller meals, lower nutritional quality, and disengagement from community-based providers.
Currently, the funding for the government’s school lunch programme is due to end in late 2026, with no proposed initiatives in its place.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Dr. Kelly Garton about the inefficacies of the current contract, and the urgent need to invest in this support for our rangatahi.
Every few years, Aotearoa's beech trees produce a great quantity, or mast, of fruit that feeds many of our native birds but also our pests. This coming year, models predict a huge 'mega masting' and conservation experts are gearing up to suppress what they expect will be an explosion of predator species who will turn their sights on native birds when fruit is gone.
To discuss this issue Wednesday Wire Producer Manny spoke to Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Auckland, James Russell and, after that, the Coordinator of DOC's predator control program, Peter Morton.
The government had announced meat would be inspected by officers employed by meat companies rather than independent inspectors, as is the current model. The PSA's National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says companies will be able to cut corners in terms of inspection and bow to company pressures.
She also says the privatisation can impact New Zealand's reputation as a meat exporter as well.
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