Government back down on fruit in schools

The National Government are not serious about addressing child poverty and nutrition, the Green Party said today.

Cabinet papers released to the Green Party show that the Government made a decision late last year to extend the successful fruit in schools scheme from just decile 1 and 2 schools, to include decile 3 schools as well. Health Minister Tony Ryall then backed down in March of this year before the decision was made public.

"The back down shows that this Government doesn't have a commitment to making the changes that kids in New Zealand need," Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said.

"The Government's own evaluation of the free fruit scheme was that it was successful and making a real and positive difference to children.

"We need to get serious about ending child poverty and one step would be to provide food in schools so that all kids will have what they need to learn.

"Extending free school fruit to decile 3 schools would have benefitted an extra 36,783 children.

"All Kiwi kids deserve a good life and a fair future, and making sure they have good food while at school will be an important step towards that.

"The Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty recommended a national strategy for food in schools. The time is right, the support is there and this Government should be taking action, not backing down from it," said Ms Delahunty.