Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expects Associate Education Minister David Seymour to give problems with the new school lunches programme his “full attention”.
RNZ has reported concerns raised by multiple schools about the lunches being late, inedible, repetitive, or failing to meet dietary restrictions.
Speaking to reporters in Vietnam, Christopher Luxon described them as teething problems.
“David Seymour will work his way through those issues — he’s minister responsible for it and I expect he will, and I know that he’s well aware of the challenges and working his way through what have been some teething issues up front, but he will work his way through that.”
He said Seymour was “accountable for delivering” and Luxon had no doubt he would be able to. The two had discussed the problems, Luxon said. “I think he knows exactly what needs to happen.”
School Lunch Collective sent an email this morning, warning of delivery delays and apologising for multiple issues this week. (Source: 1News)
While parts of the programme were being delivered well there had been problems with being on time and meeting the contract, Luxon said.
“David will be giving it his full court and full attention and I expect him to do so.”
Earlier this week, Compass Group boss Paul Harvey told Checkpoint it was “mission critical” to meet their key performance indicators.
Seymour told RNZ the collective providing the lunches would not be sacked.
“These are free meals being paid by the taxpayer, they are very good according to many of the people receiving them.
“There have been some challenges – which we have a track record of overcoming – and at some point, you’ve got to have reference to the other 75% of parents paying for their kids lunches,” he said.
rnz.co.nz
