Ministry of Education

Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Alternative Provision

The Ministry’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme is one of the biggest food programmes in the country, delivering lunches to over 240,000 children and young people who need this support.

On 8 May 2024 the Government announced a change for Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme as part of Budget 2024.

The Ministry of Education and an expert advisory group consisting of commercial and not-for-profit experts in procurement, logistics, contracting, child welfare and nutrition, have been developing a new programme for term 1 2025, that provides nutritious and delicious meals more efficiently, with less surplus and food waste.
There has been engagement with representatives from schools, kura, boards, and sector leaders.

A range of opportunities across the supply chain will be considered to reduce complexity, duplication, and consolidate food volumes to maximise government buying power.

The Ministry is interested in hearing from meal providers, food manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, and distributors who can deliver scalable solution/s that meet these needs within the budgetary parameters which have been set.

Registration of interest in the Healthy School Lunches Alternative Provision Model programme will be open on the Government Electronic Tender Service (GETS) website from Monday 12 August 2024.