Too many children and young people in New Zealand are going to school hungry which means they are not able to learn well. This hunger is making school not a priority, students are more concerned with living day to day than focused on their futures. We urge the Government to bring in the bill to provide state-funded breakfast and lunch programmes in decile one and two schools. Although a small prop
ortion are receiving food at school from the organisation KidsCan, more needs to be done to ensure that the 110,000 plus students that attend decile 1 and 2 schools are properly fed and ready to engage in learning. Children and young people at low decile schools have consistently raised the issue of hunger as their priority issue, and have pointed to the importance of food in schools so that they can focus and achieve at school. On behalf of these children and young people and their futures, we would like you to support Hone Harawira’s Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes in Schools) Amendment Bill when it comes before Parliament for its reading on the 10th July 2013. These children are the future leaders, teachers and engineers of our society.
