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Revelations thousands of New Zealand children need food from charities and schools to stop them going hungry has sparked a heated debate among nzherald.co.nz readers.
More than 40,000 children are being fed by charities every week as low-income families struggle to cope with soaring food prices.
School principals say the
number of pupils turning up for breakfast is increasing daily, despite the collapse of one of the two main breakfast programmes - a Red Cross scheme which ended this month after Countdown supermarkets withdrew their sponsorship.
About 200 people have responded to a nzherald.co.nz call for suggestions on how to feed New Zealand's needy children.
Many blamed the crisis on the rising cost of living, inequality between the rich and or poor spending decisions from parents.
Some called for Government to provide more help to struggling families, while others said parents need to direct more money towards their children's welfare.
People's champ said: "I genuinely accept most parents affected cannot afford to buy food for their children due to the high cost of living so the government has a responsibility to protect these vulnerable people. On the other hand to those parents who can't afford food because they spend all their money on smokes and lotto tickets shame on you, you're a disgrace."
Tonto said the fact many schools have to provide breakfast to young students, while Orewa College was putting tablet PCs such as iPads on its stationary list, showed division in New Zealand society.
"Such a disconnected, grossly unequal society, breeds troubles."
Kit said "anyone receiving any money at all" could afford Weetbix for breakfast and said families need to reprioritise their spending.
"The parents of these children must learn good nutrition and budgeting skills - by force if necessary. This is why I believe in part of your benefit/working for families being paid in food stamps... that can only be spent on food in a supermarket, nothing else.
DW and Tricky D also cast doubt on whether the problem was due to genuine poverty.
"Is it a case of how many parents 'can't' feed their children or how many simply 'don't' feed their children?," DW said.
Tricky D said: "I'm sure if a large majority of the parents of these children gave up smoking and alcohol they would be in a better position to feed their children."
That was countered by Ian Guy, who said those accusing parents of wasting money did not understand the economic realities facing poor families.
"Many assumptions being made about peoples circumstances; fact is many people have to travel long distances to actually work. Rents are very high too, what about power? People have to prioritise which is more important - a warm house, petrol to get to work, the cellphone (often the only means of contact) or food."
Finally, Soupy said money needed to be better targeted towards needy children.
"Bring back school dinners, government needs to address our social ills and remember that charity begins at home. Food needs to go directly to the children, extra money to the families is often abused."
