Associate Education Minister David Seymour has confirmed that from Term 1, 2026, the new school lunch programme will provide affordable and nutritious lunches to contributing primary schools throughout New Zealand.
Daily Meals for Thousands of Students
The programme is set to reach around 242,000 students every school day. From Term 1, all contributing primary schools (Years 0–6) will transition to the same cost-efficient model as other schools already in the programme. This two-stage rollout was agreed upon by Cabinet in 2024.
Suppliers and Regional Approach
Suppliers were invited to apply for the Healthy School Lunches Request for Proposals in July. Ten suppliers have now been contracted to provide lunches to 188 contributing primary schools. These suppliers will deliver meals that cater to standard and special diet requirements, use sustainable packaging, and implement user-friendly ordering systems. They are also responsible for managing surplus meals and reducing waste.
The regional approach ensures that even small and remote schools receive meals efficiently. The programme is projected to save taxpayers approximately $145 million in 2026 while providing reliable service. Experienced suppliers such as Café Mahia continue to demonstrate their ability to deliver meals under challenging conditions, including floods that affect remote communities.
Cost-Efficient and Sustainable Model
The weighted average meal cost across all suppliers is $3.46, with individual supplier costs ranging from $3 to $5 per meal. This variation accounts for regional factors, school size, and remote locations. The programme does not require additional funding, as it is financed through efficiencies and flexible ordering systems. Schools can adjust orders based on student needs, reducing unnecessary spending.
Under previous arrangements, lunches could cost up to $8.68 per student. The updated programme leverages commercial expertise to deliver nutritious meals at a lower cost, benefiting both students and taxpayers.
Programme Impact and Expansion
Since the beginning of Term 1, 2025, the programme has served over 30 million meals to students in more than 1,000 schools. Additionally, up to 10,000 children aged two to five in low-equity, community-based early learning services will now receive meals, funded through savings in the lunch programme.
While some existing suppliers may experience changes, the primary goal remains ensuring that students receive healthy meals at an affordable cost to taxpayers.
New Suppliers for Contributing Primary Schools
The list of ten suppliers contracted for contributing primary schools is available in the programme’s information sheet.