The Labour Party is criticising Associate Education Minister David Seymour’s new school lunches programme, which began this week.
It says social media reports are circulating of what it describes as “revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging”.
“This Government slashed school lunch funding and handed the job to a global corporation instead of supporting local suppliers,” Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says.
“Now kids are stuck with worse meals. Their choice to prioritise cuts over proper nutrition for our kids is a disgrace.”
Parents and teachers have been sharing stories of inferior meals that kids could not eat, meals arriving hours after they were needed, and mislabelled packaging, Tinetti says.
A Cabinet Paper in March, 2024, informed the Government changes to the school lunch programme would risk achievement, attendance, nutrition, and well-being of children, as well as having wider impacts on reducing child poverty, but it made the changes anyway, she says.
“Sadly, this was entirely predictable. Instead of investing in children’s nutrition and supporting local food suppliers, this government chose cost-cutting ahead of quality.
“Proper nutrition is essential for kids to focus and learn. Rather than showing leadership and prioritising our kids’ well-being, [Prime Minister] Christopher Luxon followed David Seymour’s reckless advice and chose cuts over quality.
“As an educator, I’ve heard similar horror stories from my former colleagues, and I’m deeply concerned this is just the tip of the iceberg.
“Children should not have to suffer because of the Government’s poor choices.”
