Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme a big hit in Whanganui

Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Free & Healthy School Lunches

26 October 2021

Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Free & Healthy School Lunch Programme is an initiative created by The Ministry of Education. The first schools coming onboard in Hawkes Bay, to address food insecurity in our children. The programme has expanded and now ensures over 200,000 children in New Zealand are fed a nutritious lunch every day at school.

Grace Putan, Healthy Active Learning Advisor for WDHB, offers support to schools within our rohe who are enrolled in the programme with the goal of making the healthy choice an easy choice for children. 

There are three options that schools can chose from. There has been great success with schools who chose to supply the kai internally. This is fast becoming the gold standard of the programme as it can be tailored to suit the individual cultural needs of each school. As Covid lockdowns and level restrictions came into force, this option has allowed the schools involved to use their resources to continue to help the communities they serve. Food is prepared and supplied as food parcels and prepared, nutritious meals. 

Ka Ora, Ka Ako offers so much more than simply a meal. Regular, nutritious food is essential for our children’s physical, mental and educational development. Their ability to focus, concentrate and learn all see great gains. Additionally, the programme has seen a rise in community engagement from whānau, active participation from the children as they prepare spaces for kai, learn to clean those spaces and are involved in growing some of the food that they will then eat. 

A remarkable achievement that is setting our children up for successful eating habits in the future.

You can learn more about this programme here.