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Students at Masterton Primary and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Wairarapa schools will be the latest to receive fresh fruit every school day as a result of the Labour-led Government's major expansion of the Fruit in Schools programme, Labour Government MP Georgina Beyer announced today.
Health Minister Pete Hodgson announced earlier this week that the Government would invest $4.4 million to more than double the size of the Fruit in Schools programme. From this week, children at 268 schools, including all decile 1 primary schools, will have fresh fruit delivered daily.
The programme - launched last year - sees participating schools receive free fruit for three years as an incentive for schools to commit to policies encouraging healthy eating and physical activity.
"Improving childhood nutrition is one of the most important things we can do to improve the overall health of New Zealand families," Ms Beyer said.
"The Fruit in Schools initiative has been a huge success. Participating teachers are telling us concentration levels and the behaviour of children has improved rapidly since the Fruit in Schools programme began.
"One school has even had less suspensions, which they say is due to improved behaviour."
The Fruit in Schools extension is being implemented alongside the Government's recently announced Mission On package to promote nutrition and increased physical activity. Mission On includes initiatives to improve the quality of food served in schools, reduce children's exposure to advertising of unhealthy food and to promote physical activity.
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