Tuesday, 28 November 2023
WhakataneTaurangaRotoruaTaupo
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

School aims to be 'water only'

Stephanie Arthur-Worsop
By
Stephanie Arthur-Worsop
23 Mar, 2016 12:00 AM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Jessica Macdonald, 17, and Robbie Wong-Toi, 17, enjoying the new John Paul College water stations. Photo / Stephen Parker

Jessica Macdonald, 17, and Robbie Wong-Toi, 17, enjoying the new John Paul College water stations. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua principal has installed filtered water stations for students and is looking at ways to become a "water only school" following nationwide calls to tax sugary drinks.

The calls come after Britain's Treasury chief George Osborne announced a 25p (53c) per litre tax on sugary drinks.

The Ministry of Health released a statement yesterday saying it was encouraging schools to consider adopting healthy drink programmes, supporting a simple schools drinks policy of water and plain, reduced-fat milk.

According to the latest Health Survey results, one in nine Kiwi kids is obese and a further two are overweight.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said the school had built two filtered water stations for students which were proving popular.

I've found at secondary school many of the students are actually quite health conscious. The filtered water stations allow students to fill up their water bottles and have been extremely popular

Patrick Walsh

At the moment John Paul College offers sports drinks and flavoured milk in its tuck shop, but Mr Walsh said he was not fooled by the perception that these drinks were healthy.

"Sports drinks and flavoured milk may not have as much sugar in them as fizzy drinks do but they are not as healthy as they are marketed to be. We are looking at ways to become a water only school and I think most students and families will be on board with the shift."

Sunset Primary School principal Niels Rasmussen said he discouraged children from drinking sugary drinks and had been working on a programme of reduction. "There are children who still come to school with fizzy drinks but we are working to change that. We know fizzy drinks are a precursor to bad dental health and diabetes but it has got to be a self-monitoring thing.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"When you can buy a 2l bottle of Coke for cheaper than a smaller bottle of water, something is not adding up. It doesn't make sense."

Otonga Rd Primary School principal Linda Woon said the school's management of sugary drinks was enforced at the new entrant level.

"When children start [school] we highly discourage their parents from giving them fizzy drinks to bring to school. It's part of our induction programme with every child."

Ms Woon said the school had water fountains and ran the Milk in Schools programme.

Related articles

Three new members added to Waiariki Bay of Plenty Institute of Technology's council

21 Mar 10:26 PM

Rotorua welcomes new Kiwis (+video)

22 Mar 05:54 AM

Homegrown Talent: The local gig scene

22 Mar 10:02 PM

Type 1 diabetes 'frustrating' say pair (+video)

07 Apr 09:29 PM

"With water readily available everywhere in the school plus our milk programme, children don't need to bring drinks in at all."

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Rāhui on part of BoP river after death

28 Nov 01:09 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Film review: Napoleon

27 Nov 11:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Police officer's actions 'unjustified' in arrest after crash

27 Nov 10:26 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Taupō charity seeks ray of hope

27 Nov 09:00 PM

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rāhui on part of BoP river after death

Rāhui on part of BoP river after death

28 Nov 01:09 AM

All activity on a stretch of the Rangitaiki River is banned until December 9.

Film review: Napoleon

Film review: Napoleon

27 Nov 11:00 PM
Police officer's actions 'unjustified' in arrest after crash

Police officer's actions 'unjustified' in arrest after crash

27 Nov 10:26 PM
Taupō charity seeks ray of hope

Taupō charity seeks ray of hope

27 Nov 09:00 PM
Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About UsHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to Rotorua Daily PostHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionRotorua Daily Post E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP