Save the Children New Zealand is behind the Community Campaign for Food in Schools, which launched today and the child rights organisation is calling on New Zealanders to let the government know just how important it is to ‘feed the kids’. “The food in schools campaign is about taking care of our children. The level of child poverty in New Zealand has doubled over the last 30 years and is quite simply unacceptable. All of us, including government, have a role to play in tackling this issue” said Save the Children New Zealand chief executive Heather Hayden.

MPs urged to consider food in schools

The ‘Feed the Kids Bill’ gives MPs the opportunity to get the best ideas about how to provide food in schools for all New Zealand children, says the Public Health Association.

“Barnardos New Zealand is calling on MPs to support the Feed our Kids Bill.

Arriving at school hungry is a significant barrier to children and young people achieving in school, and providing healthy breakfasts and lunches for students in decile 1 and 2 schools is an important way to address this.”

“Children have told us that hunger is the most important issue associated with poverty. They also said that food in schools is a strategy most likely to be successful in alleviating poverty.  

“It will not only reduce hunger and improve the health of children; it is likely to increase school attendance and achievement. This makes food in schools a worthwhile investment to counter the impacts of child poverty,” said Deborah Morris-Travers, Manager of Every Child Counts.

NZEI Te Riu Roa is adding its voice to the growing call to support new legislation that would help to feed children in low decile schools.

“Our members working in schools know that providing breakfasts and lunches in decile 1 and 2 will help lift the achievement of children living in poverty,” said Laures Park, Acting National Secretary.

UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund) is pleased that a start can be made in improving the health and education of children living in poverty, with the Food in Schools Amendment Bill to be introduced to Parliament on Weds 13 February, 2013.

The Bill aims to establish programmes to provide breakfast and lunch in all decile one and two schools, as one means to improve educational outcomes.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is supporting the MANA party’s Bill which aims to set up breakfast and lunch programmes in all decile 1 and 2 schools.

Child poverty must be tackled’, said NZNO Nursing policy adviser/researcher Dr Jill Clendon. “Malnourished, hungry children can’t learn; if they can’t learn then there is no chance of them being successful at school.”

Auckland Action Against Poverty supports the Education (Breakfast and Lunch in Schools) Amendment Bill sponsored by Hone Harawira MP and we urge all political parties to support the Bill at its first reading in February, says Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Sarah Thompson.

"Research shows that food-in-school programmes have a positive impact on school attendance, learning achievement, and child health - for this reason alone, who wouldn't want to feed the kids?