Fonterra Milk For Schools Rolls Into Southland and Otago

Fonterra Milk For Schools Rolls Into Southland and Otago

An early morning farm visit and a small convoy of milk tankers, tractors and buses through the main street of Invercargill heralded the start of the nationwide rollout of Fonterra Milk for Schools today.

After hosting students from 12 local schools at a farm, a convoy of vehicles made its way through the town’s main street en route to Waverley Park School.

Carly Robinson, Group General Manager Global Co-operative Social Responsibility says: “Today is a big day for us and for the Southland and Otago communities, and we wanted to recognise it, as well as everyone involved in making Fonterra Milk for Schools happen.

“This programme is our commitment to helping improve the health of New Zealand’s children and to moving Kiwi kids back to milk,” Ms Robinson says.

“As one of the first schools to start drinking milk in the nationwide rollout, Waverley Park has been a great host. For Fonterra Milk for Schools to be successful, we need to work closely with the schools involved, so it’s great to have so much support right from the start.”

Principal of Waverley Park, Kerry Hawkins, says today’s event is a fitting way to launch Fonterra Milk for Schools.

“As a school, we strive to create the best possible learning environments for our kids. A programme like this fits very comfortably with our learning and teaching philosophies, and we're thrilled to be able to offer milk to every kid, every day.

"Fonterra Milk for Schools is an incredible and generous programme and, as such, it is thoroughly deserving of a proper welcome to the south. We're honoured to have been given the chance to represent the wider southern community in hosting the launch, and to have the opportunity to say thank you to the Co-op on behalf of the community,” says Mr Hawkins.

Invercargill City Mayor, Tim Shadbolt, joined Fonterra farmers and staff, Waverley Park, and other members of the community at the school.

“The Fonterra Milk for Schools programme will play a key role in building future generations of Southlanders. It will benefit our community in many ways, with positive impacts on children’s health, nutrition, and concentration in the classroom.

“As an advocate of good nutrition in schools, I took an interest in the Northland pilot and was excited to learn that, while at the opposite end of the country, Southland would be one of the first to follow.

“I’m looking forward to working with local schools and Fonterra to make this programme a success in the interest of our kids. Fonterra has given us an opportunity to make a real difference together and I’m confident that Southland schools will get the nationwide rollout off to a flying start,” says His Worship. 

ENDS

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