The evaluation report of the (Ka Ora, Ka Ako) New Zealand Healthy School Lunches programme was commissioned to assess the impact of the programme on secondary school-aged learners’ wellbeing, as well as the impact of the programme on attendance among all age groups. It extends upon the earlier interim evaluation of the Healthy School Lunches pilot that focused on the programme’s impact on wellbeing and attendance among primary and intermediate-aged ākonga involved in the initial roll out.

Key findings:

The programme resulted in:

• better mental wellbeing of secondary school-aged ākonga, with those underserved ākonga within the programme realising a 14% advantage in mental wellbeing than their underserved peers in other schools.
• improved energy and ability to undertake a range of physical activities among secondary school-aged ākonga, with the programme contributing to a 16% physical functioning advantage for the most underserved ākonga.
• improved ability to function in school, with the programme contributing a 20% school functioning advantage for the most underserved ākonga.
• improved emotional and social functioning among secondary school-aged ākonga, with the programme contributing to a 9-12% advantage for the most underserved ākonga.
• an overall better health quality of life for secondary school-aged ākonga.
• an 8.4% reduction in secondary school-aged ākonga designated ‘at risk’ of impaired health quality of life.

The benefits of the programme increase when Ka Ora, Ka Ako ākonga are compared to ākonga in schools and kura that have no alternative food provision.

The programme has not contributed to change in attendance across the schools and kura.