29 Aug 2019

Jacinda Ardern announces free lunch in schools trial

From Checkpoint, 5:12 pm on 29 August 2019

The government is rolling out a daily free lunch trial starting with 30 primary and intermediate schools from the beginning of next year.

The new initiative will be piloted at 30 primary and intermediate schools in lower socio-economic areas of the Bay of Plenty, Waiariki, Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti.

And it will be extended to 21,000 children in 120 schools by the beginning of 2021.

There are no details of exactly how the service will be delivered. Individual schools are being left to decide that themselves.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tells Lisa Owen the announcement is hugely important to her.