Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board in the Far North says it will do all it can to make sure hungry school children don't miss out on having lunch.
For the past four years the board has used some of the money received through a contract with the Ministry of Social Development, to provide lunches for about 20 children.
The ministry says the practice has to stop.
Board chairperson Raymond Subritzky says it all began after the board's social services arm, identified a need in half a dozen schools around Kaitaia.
He says the board will have to look carefully at the contract it has with the ministry, and see if there are any other contracts it can arrange, which will provide funding to cater for the students who are in need.
Mr Subritzky says with school starting this week, the board will be trying to find a solution, so children don't spend all day at school feeling hungry.
