Tinetti said in a statement that the post had been removed but children deserved better than the “subpar lunches” currently being served up.
David Seymour, the Associate Education Minister currently in charge of the programme, said Tinetti faced the same issues when Labour was in power despite spending more
“So she could do with being a bit more gracious,” he told the Herald.
“This is a huge programme, with 242,000 hot meals needing to be delivered on time and at the right temperature each day. We need to be saving money and delivering at the same time.”
The Act Party posted a shortened version of Tinetti’s video online (not featuring other images of lunches), saying it was “embarassing” that Labour was criticising a “school lunch made when they were in government”.
“Labour are so desperate to criticise the new school lunch programme they’re using pictures of lunches made under their government”
In 2020, the Labour Government began funding free school lunches in schools, with an initial pilot programme expanded over time.
After taking office in 2023, the current Government made changes to the programme that resulted in $130 million of annual cost savings. Seymour said every student who had received lunches would continue to do so and the lunches would be “nutritious”.
But principals this week complained about the quality of the meals, some of which turned up late to schools.
Auckland Primary Principals' Association president Kyle Brewerton said kids have been comparing the lunches to “dog food” and refusing to eat them.
“The quality was sort of being touted [last year] as something that was going to be quite nutritious and delicious, and we haven’t experienced that yet.”
Seymour told Newstalk ZB on Friday that focus was being placed on the worst reviews of the lunch to make it seem “terrible”.
“This is a Government with a $17 billion deficit, we have managed to save $130 million on this programme while actually providing meals for more kids this year.
“We are doing something new, it is only day five, day four with school holidays in some places. So we’ve got to get a bit of a reality check.”
Some lunches supplied by the School Lunch Collective will also arrive late today after the group experienced issues with its ovens in Auckland.
“We apologise to you and to the students for the number of times this week the lunches have arrived late. We know these lunches are important to you and the School Lunch Collective is working urgently to make sure next week you get your lunches on time.
“If your meals are late to arrive and you would like to purchase meals to feed your students, you will be reimbursed for the cost of the food.”
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.
