More than 3,200 school children in the Bay of Plenty Region are receiving free breakfasts in schools under the KickStart programme, says Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller.
'As children head back to school this term I am pleased to announce that over 92 schools in the Bay of Plenty region are offering free breakfasts through the KickStart Breakfast Programme,” he explains.
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller. Photo: File.
Todd was the Fonterra executive in charge of the Breakfast in Schools programme when it was expanded, and says he's delighted a further 27 local schools have since joined the programme.
KickStart provides free breakfasts five days a week in all primary and secondary schools, regardless of decile, that want or need it.
'This programme is a great example of communities, schools, government and businesses such as Fonterra and Sanitarium working together to make a genuine impact for those children who need it most,” says Todd.
'Schools also advise that through KickStart they are seeing improvements in the health and wellbeing, concentration, and behaviour of students.
'KickStart helps to keep New Zealand children healthy and ready to learn.”
Some five million breakfasts have been served in schools across the country since the government expanded the programme in 2013.
KickStart Breakfast is supplied through the National Government's partnership with Fonterra and Sanitarium.
5 comments
Letting some parents off the hook?
Posted on 22-07-2015 11:24 | By BullShtAlert
So on top of the various benefits available including unemployment, sickness, housing supplements etc etc etc there are now free breakfasts. Not sure what exactly partnership with the businesses and the National Govt means though. Oh well, I guess the next thing will be free lunches and dinners as well? I get the feeling that somehow the poor old taxpayer will ending up paying, especially if the current "partnership" ends??
Good idea?
Posted on 22-07-2015 12:24 | By penguin
It's great that the meals are being provided, but it still begs the question as to why these kids need them supplied from schools at all. While it is easy to point the finger at the home for supposedly not taking responsibility, one needs to look deeper into the reasons why - no jobs, insufficient income etc. Of course the government's solution to the problem is to use the hollow rhetoric about 'encouraging people into work
Poor Choices by their Parents
Posted on 22-07-2015 17:16 | By carpedeum
Actually its not the children's fault that their parents make poor choices and choose to spend their money on things other than a ten cent plate of hot porridge for their kids. At least they are being fed. Agree- it should not be happening- but the reality is that IT IS
Parents???
Posted on 22-07-2015 18:09 | By peecee09
Where are the parents? Probably still in bed when their children head off to school. How useless can you get. They are the ones who should made to face up and fulfill their parental responsibilities. They are a disgrace.
parenting skills
Posted on 22-07-2015 19:32 | By Kathryn
I work in a low decile school. If you think that free breakfast is all they get let me enlighten you... free daily milk and fruit (no seconds)free lunch to those who don't have provided by St Vincent de paul, free rain coats so that they won't stay home on rainy days(provided by Kids Can) shoes to those who need also by Kidscan, teachers pass on their kids clothes to some families and house stuff to the Social worker to pass on, free dental services, free Dr. free glasses (if the parents could be bothered to go and choose which ones they want)and all we ask is that they read and talk to their children but all too busy on x-box and can't afford to buy scissors so the kids can learn to cut.
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