KA ORA, KA AKO

THE HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME

What the government is currently doing to reduce food insecurity among children? Lets take a look…

Jacinda Adern smiling and handing out trays of food to children outdoors.

New Zealand’s free school lunch programme, Ka Ora, Ka Ako - Healthy School Lunches, was launched by the government in 2019 with the aim of reducing food insecurity.

Currently 1,023 schools with 229,811 students on their rolls are taking part. Students are not assessed individually, as eligibility is dependent on the school’s rating on the Equity Index. Schools in the top 25% of the index, which indicates the greatest socioeconomic barriers faced, are eligible.

Six children in a classroom eating slices of pizza, with classroom posters and toys visible in the background.

However, more than two in every five young people living in severely food-insecure households had never received Ka Ora, Ka Ako lunches.

Graphic design with gold and gray utensils and plates, arranged in a line with the text "eat clean" in the middle.

While over half of young people living in moderately food-insecure households had never received the Ka Ora, Ka Ako lunches.

Growing Up in nz full report (2023)

Two rows of stylized human figures, 7 yellow figures in the top row and 4 gray figures in the bottom row.

Now, let’s take a closer look at Ka Ora, Ka Ako.