12/12/2024
W Forest
[FYI request #28926 email]
Tēnā koe W Forest
OIA: 1340027 – Information regarding changes to Ka Ora Ka Ako
Thank you for your email of 26 October 2024 to the office of Associate Minister David Seymour,
which was transferred on 15 November 2024 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting
the fol owing information:
1. Please provide the cost and savings projections and assessments that show the speculated
130M cost savings with the new school lunches program.
2. Also please provide the nutritional assessment and the proposals government received that
led to the decision to overhaul the menu and monopolize the vendors.
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
The Ministry needs to extend the timeframe for responding to your part one of your request,
pursuant to section 15A(1)(b) of the Act, as consultations necessary to make a decision on the
request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.
You can now expect to receive a response to part one of your request on or before 20 January
2025, which is an extension of 15 working days. Please note, this due date takes into account the
summer holidays, from 25 December to 15 January, however we wil aim to provide you with our
substantive response as soon as possible.
Regarding part two of your request, I can advise that the government’s decision to change the Ka
Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme preceded the receipt of any nutritional
assessment or proposals. The decision to change the programme then led to the government
going out to tender. I am therefore refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act,
as the information requested does not exist.
8 Gilmer Terrace, Levels Ground floor, 1, 2, and 6-14, Wellington
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
You have the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate our decision to extend the timeframe for
responding to this request, in accordance with section 28 of the Act. You can do this by writing to
[email address] or Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wel ington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Cindy McDonald
Principal Advisor
Official and Parliamentary Information
Government, Executive and Ministerial Services
