The Greens have vowed to restore the school lunch programme to its original form, extend it to more schools, and fund it permanently.
Under the election policy launched today, lunch production would be returned to local providers and be permanently funded.
It would be expanded to 400 more schools, providing free meals to 150,000 more students.
The policy was expected to cost $472 million in its first year, rising to $602 million by 2030-31.
“The Green Party's school lunch programme will feed kids and local economies, not the pockets of corporations,” co-leader Marama Davidson said.
Funding to the old programme was slashed by the current Government, which said it was too expensive.
Under the current scheme, each lunch costs about $3.60. According to Associate Education Minister David Seymour, it will save $122 million in 2027. In this year's budget, the Government pledged $212.4 million of funding to extend the programme for another year.
The Greens want to increase the cost of each lunch to $6.50, and have it provided locally.
“School lunches are about more than food. They are about investing in our children’s futures, creating local jobs and supporting local food producers,” Davidson said.
“We know that our tamariki learn better when they are well fed. Every child across Aotearoa deserves healthy, delicious, locally prepared kai that helps them thrive.”
“Slashing the school lunch programme’s funding and removing contracts from local providers cost New Zealanders hundreds of local jobs, left half of meals failing minimum nutritional standards and increased food waste. The cut-price programme doesn't even have secure funding beyond 2028.”
“We can afford to feed our children nutritious kai and put money back into our local communities. We can afford all of this and more with a fair tax system, for all of us."
A report from the Auditor-General at the end of June warned that the Government had not clearly shown that the current scheme was delivering its aims.
It found that while the programme had saved money compared to Labour's version, its performance was not being properly managed or tracked.
It also flagged concerns about how the new system was set up, including weak backup planning and last-minute changes, even after contracts were signed.
“Since the beginning of Term 1 2025, the Programme has delivered over 48 million meals to over 1,000 schools," Seymour said in May.
"By the end of 2027 the Programme is expected to save about $360 million compared to how Labour funded it.
“The Programme continues to improve. After fixing some teething issues, the Programme now delivers a good service. On time delivery is almost 100 per cent every day and complaints have fallen by over 92 per cent. We are getting the same results as the old programme, but cheaper."
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