PRESS RELEASE

MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau Hone Harawira

Launch of community campaign to feed the kids

1 May 2013

“Along with the organisations who’re today launching a community campaign for food programmes in schools, I’m again urging my parliamentary colleagues to support my Feed the Kids Bill”, said Hone Harawira, Leader of MANA and MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

“Making sure all of our kids are fed and well and ready to learn at school should be our first priority as a nation – not the last.”

Mr Harawira’s Member’s Bill to introduce government-funded breakfast and lunch programmes in decile 1-2 schools is due to come up for first reading next month. If passed at first reading, the Bill will be considered by a parliamentary select committee.

“The goal is to get the Bill before a parliamentary select committee so that all the pros and cons of food programmes in schools can be fully looked at and worked through, and the best model put forward.

“Some of my parliamentary colleagues have said that legislation isn’t needed for the government to do more to feed our kids. My view is that a new law is absolutely necessary to ensure the funds to feed our kids are secure into the future – and that our kids remain a priority even when times are tough.

“Many of the organisations involved in the campaign are long time advocates of food in schools as a workable solution to child poverty, and all are committed to making sure each and every one of our kids has the best possible start in life. I’m totally rapt to have their support on the Bill.

Organisations involved in the community campaign include: Anglican Church; Auckland Action Against Poverty; Barnardos; Caritas Aotearoa NZ;

Child Poverty Action Group; CTU Rūnanga; Every Child Counts; IHC; Methodist Church; NZEI; NZ Nurses’ Organisation; NZ Principals’ Federation; Plunket; Poverty Action Waikato; PPTA; Salvation Army; Save the Children; Te ORA (Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa): Māori Medical Practitioners’ Association; Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko i te Ora (Māori Women’s Welfare League); Te Waka Huia; The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners; Unicef NZ; Unite Union; and Women’s Refuge.

ENDS

© Scoop Media