We provide a free healthy lunch to students in about 40% of New Zealand primary, intermediate and secondary schools and kura. If your school is in the programme, go to the Ka Ora, Ka Ako website for resources, information and guidance.

Working Together - Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Healthy School Lunches Programme

Who makes the lunches for Ka Ora, Ka Ako

Schools and kura currently decide whether they want to make their own lunches or use a supplier, or iwi or hapū partner.

On 8 May 2024, the Government announced a change for Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme as part of Budget 2024. Under this change, lunches will be provided differently for Year 7+ learners from the beginning of 2025. There is no change in how lunches are provided for Years 1-6 learners.

Schools with Year 7+ learners will order food from a central source to store, prepare and distribute to learners. 

These changes will take effect from the beginning of 2025. The programme will remain as is for the rest of the 2024 school year. The programme is funded until the end of 2026.

Smarter lunch programme feeds more costs less – Beehive

Supplied lunches

Ministry-approved suppliers across New Zealand prepare and deliver healthy lunches to schools. Schools can choose which suppliers they partner with. Suppliers are a mix of large and small local companies. We recently selected suppliers through a tender process for 2025 and 2026. There are no plans for future tenders at this stage.

Lunches made by schools

Schools and kura can choose to prepare their own lunches in kitchens on-site. This allows them more flexibility to respond to the needs of students.

Lunches made by iwi and hapū

In some communities, schools and kura have decided to partner with a local iwi or hapū to supply lunches.

Healthy, safe and nutritious meals

Lunch providers must follow the same safety standards as any other commercial food provider. They must provide safe options for children with dietary requirements.

For example, children who are vegetarian, vegan, coeliac, or eat according to religious beliefs, such as halal food, are catered to.

Learners with special and complex dietary needs are also catered to.

We have developed nutrition standards for our providers to follow. Nutritionists review the lunch choices to check standards are being supported.

The Ka Ora, Ka Ako website has information about food standards and safety.

Ka Ora, Ka Ako – Healthy School Lunches Programme

Eligibility

We aim to reach the 25% of students in schools and kura that are in most need of support.

We use the Equity Index to work out which schools we need to include to reach these students. When we review the Equity Index each year some schools and kura that were not in the school lunches programme before may be invited to join.

Any schools and kura receiving lunches that drop out of the 25% threshold will continue to receive them.

At the moment Ka Ora, Ka Ako is funded until the end of 2026.

Read more about how the equity index works.

Equity Index

If you want to know more about Ka Ora, Ka Ako, contact us.

Email [email protected]

Evaluations

We commissioned 5 independent evaluations of the programme, and a technical evaluation report. The evaluations aimed to help us understand:

• the impacts of the programme on learners of different age groups
• the nutritional value of the lunches.

Evaluation findings included identifiable shifts in engagement in education and wellbeing, as well as wider societal impacts from the programme. Schools also frequently report on the programme's positive impact on attendance.