Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Pupils surrounded by food outlets

By Dawn Picken
Weekend and opinion writer·Rotorua Daily Post·
10 May, 2016 02:53 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Rotorua Primary pupils are surrounded by outlets selling an array of foods, some of which are high-sugar, high fat. But principal John Naera says a school fruit programme is helping his pupils make healthier choices. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua Primary pupils are surrounded by outlets selling an array of foods, some of which are high-sugar, high fat. But principal John Naera says a school fruit programme is helping his pupils make healthier choices. Photo / Ben Fraser

How many fast food outlets does your child or grandchild pass en route to school?

On the heels of a first-ever study of fast food shops around schools, the Rotorua Daily Post set out to analyse how many outlets selling sugary and fatty foods lie within a 1km radius of some local schools.

A nationwide study by Auckland University researchers showed more than 60 per cent of urban schools had a fast food shop within 800m; nearly 70 per cent had a dairy within that zone.

We visited several Rotorua neighbourhoods for a street view of what kids might encounter around school.

Rotorua Primary School, in the CBD, is nestled within a hub of commercial activity: offices, shops, banks, and hairdressers rub shoulders with shops, restaurants and cafes whose offerings encompass fine dining, fried chicken, pizza, fries, icecream, lollies and much more.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

We counted more than 40 restaurants and food outlets within 1km of the school, not including bottle shops and bars.

Rotorua Primary principal John Naera says his school was close to a dairy, but pupils could only go there before or after school with parents. "I don't think I've seen a fizzy drink in our school for a long time."

Mr Naera said his school had followed a healthy lunch policy for years. While they used to have a canteen, students now have one day per week where they can buy lunches. In addition, the school participates in the Government's Fruit in Schools programme, which gives students access to high-quality fruit and vegetables.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We've found kids' lunches are healthier than they've ever been. On Monday and Wednesday, the fruit is in and every child has at least one piece of fruit a day," he said.

The Rotorua principal looks to UK policies he says local schools could adopt.

"They've gone to water only. I'm not sure it needs to be legislated, but in schools, depending on priorities, 80 to 90 per cent of what kids drink is water. "

Mr Naera said he's concerned as children got older, they started drinking high-sugar caffeinated beverages to stay awake and study.

Discover more

Editorial: Kids' teeth a concern we must all share

14 Apr 06:00 AM

Obese preschoolers scaring experts

29 Apr 09:00 PM

Healthy lunch full of sugar

30 Apr 03:00 AM

Auckland University researchers suggested legislative changes could be made allowing councils to restrict new unhealthy food outlets near schools, creating a healthy food zone.

A spokeswoman for the Rotorua Lakes Council said there had been no discussions by the mayor or councillors about the issue.

Over on Malfroy Rd, Westbrook Primary School sits near a dairy and petrol stations selling snacks. Principal Colin Watkins said enforcing healthy food choices was not the government's responsibility.

"Are you going to have laws that restrict dairies and Four Squares from selling products to kids just because they're going to school? That's crap. We have enough Big Brother action happening ... all that does is put the onus on shopkeepers to police something that should be a decision made between parents and their kids. I think it's a bit of a sad indictment on our New Zealand society that more of our parenting issues are dumped on schools."

New Zealand Secondary Principals Association Waikato and Central Plateau representative Philip McCreery said he'd support a proactive programme limiting the location of fast food outlets close to schools, "but I would also encourage schools to also work with these providers to find a solution, for example, encouraging them not to serve students in school uniform".

Fast Food around Schools Study:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

* First of its kind in NZ

* Neighbourhoods checked from 2473 schools

* 69 per cent of urban schools have a convenience store within 800m

* 62 per cent of urban schools have a fast food shop within 800m

* Researchers want law changes to stop unhealthy food premises near schools

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

10 Jul 03:52 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

10 Jul 02:37 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

10 Jul 12:40 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

'Stop this madness': Police promise crackdown on illegal dirt bikers

10 Jul 03:52 AM

Several parks and reserves have been vandalised in recent weeks.

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

Midweek windfall: Winning Lotto ticket sold in Rotorua

10 Jul 02:37 AM
Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

Heavy rain warning likely for BoP – MetService

10 Jul 12:40 AM
Rotorua council takes back control of parking services

Rotorua council takes back control of parking services

09 Jul 09:40 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP