Ka Ora Ka Ako

Lunches in Schools Programme

Ka Ora, Ka Ako is offered to schools and kura with students that fall within the highest 25 percent of socio-economic disadvantage nationally and where students face the greatest barriers that can affect access to education, wellbeing and achievement.

The Ka Ora, Ka Ako | healthy school lunches programme aims to reduce food insecurity by providing access to a nutritious lunch in school every day. By September 2021, over thirty million lunches have been served in 873 schools to over 205,000 learners.

Regular, nutritious food is vital for children’s physical, mental and educational development. It affects their ability to focus, concentrate and learn.

Around one in five children in New Zealand live in households that struggle to put enough good-quality food on the table. In communities facing greater socio-economic barriers, 40% of parents run out of food sometimes or often.

Ka Ora, Ka Ako aims to reduce food insecurity by providing access to a nutritious lunch every day. The name Ka Ora, Ka Ako is about being healthy and well in order to be in a good place to learn.

Research indicates that reducing food insecurity for children and young people:

improves wellbeing

supports child development and learning

improves learners’ levels of concentration, behaviour and school achievement

reduces financial hardship amongst families and whānau

addresses barriers to children’s participation in education and promotes attendance at school

boosts learners’ overall health