A new programme to fight child obesity in New Zealand has received $765,000 in funding from The Warehouse Group's Gala Dinner on Thursday night.

Over a two year period 32,000 Kiwi children attending 170 schools across the country are set to benefit from the Empower programme which is run by not-for-profit partners Life Education Trust and Garden to Table.

From left: The Warehouse Group chief executive Nick Grayston, Garden to Table founder Catherine Bell, and Life Education Trust chief executive John O'Connell. Supplied Photo.

Life Education Trust chief executive John O'Connell says the programme is designed to equip and empower children with the knowledge of a balanced diet, meal planning, key nutrients and how to grow and cook healthy food through a mix of classroom and practical hands on learning.

'Through Empower, we want children to understand where food comes from and the importance it plays in our health so they can take that knowledge back to their families and communities,” says John.

'Child obesity levels in New Zealand stand as the third highest in the OECD with one in three being obese or overweight.”

John says gaining the support of The Warehouse Group, its suppliers and business partners who all make a significant contribution to community development each year, has ensured the innovative programme can go forward.

Garden to Table executive officer Linda Taylor explains the vision for the Empower programme is ‘Empowering children with knowledge to take action and create lifelong healthy habits'.

'Although the Empower programme has been scoped for an initial two years, it is hoped that, based on results achieved and further funding, it could continue into a third year and beyond with more than 250 schools completing the programme,” she says.

'The primary objective of the programme is to create a comprehensive and sustainable programme to reduce child obesity in New Zealand.”

Friday night's event was The Warehouse Group's 25th annual charity dinner and supplier awards.

Special guests at the black tie event included a number of MPs including Associate Health Minister and Minister for Pacific Peoples Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga and Parliamentary Health Select Committee chair Simon O'Connor.

The Warehouse Group chief executive Nick Grayston says the recipients of this year's Gala Dinner funds are about to provide a programme that has the potential to make a significant difference to New Zealand communities.

'We're proud to be able to facilitate what is one of New Zealand's most important charity events, but it is our suppliers and business partners that get behind it to raise money for what is always an important cause,” he says.

In addition to raising funds to support community development, the Gala Dinner presented the company's Supplier Awards and acknowledged The Warehouse Group's Community Hero for 2016 Kiri Swannell.