There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and
communities according to public health researchers.
ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s free school lunch programme Ka Ora, Ka
Ako by half stating there’s no evidence to support it.
However in the latest Briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre, University of Auckland researcher Dr Kelly Garton and co-authors Dr Rachael Glassey and Professor David Tipene-Leach
of Te Pūkenga, Hawke’s Bay argue that in addition to published findings from Ka Ora, Ka Ako evaluations, there is
international evidence that show the value of school lunch programmes.
Dr Garton says there’s a risk of missing the wider benefits of the programme with a narrow cost-benefit framing.
“Evaluations of the NZ programme have been able to measure effects like reduced student hunger, higher physical and
mental wellbeing, and improved alertness and capacity to learn, and better attendance for the learners facing the
greatest challenges.”
A Kaupapa Māori evaluation has noted identifiable shifts in behaviour, attitudes, attendance and engagement during class
for Māori learners according to the authors.
Dr Garton quotes an independent study collecting perspectives of students, whānau and school principals across four Ka
Ora, Ka Ako schools in Hawke’s Bay. “This study has found evidence of improved food security, enhanced equity, increased
appreciation of healthy food for students, reduced financial hardship and stress for families, opportunities for
nutritional learning, and enhanced mana (wellbeing) for all.”
"International evidence from free school lunch programmes tells us that these gains amplify over time and have a ripple
effect on communities and the food system," says Dr Garton.
The authors also stress the importance of providing the lunches to all students in the school. Overseas research from
middle schools in New York City has found that extending free school lunch to all students regardless of income improves
academic performance across the board. Studies from Norway also suggest the act of eating the same meal together results
in increased wellbeing and improved dietary habits for all kids involved.
“Most countries that have school lunch programmes such as France, Italy, the US, India, Sweden, Finland, Scotland and
Wales, feed all learners at the schools” says co-author Prof. Tipene-Leach. “There is overwhelming evidence that
programmes that target so-called ‘needy’ students, create stigma, and have been linked to lower self-esteem and poorer
academic performance."