KEY POINTS:
The Red Cross and a supermarket chain are about to offer breakfasts to children in all of New Zealand's poorest primary schools.
This latest development in the issue of hungry schoolchildren sees Countdown supermarkets joining the global relief agency to provide long-term meals at all 200 primary schools in the lowest income group, decile 1, if they need it and are not already getting food from another programme.
And Tasti Products owner Simon Hall, a near-neighbour of National Party leader John Key in Parnell, has offered 100,000 muesli bars to the charity KidsCan, allowing it to double its food programme, which now reaches 61 schools. The deal is worth about $50,000.
Mr Hall rang Mr Key last week after the politician called for business sponsorship for a "Food in Schools" programme.
The Countdown-Red Cross project is separate from Mr Key's initiative and follows a pilot in East Tamaki and Koru Primary Schools in Manukau City between May and December last year.
Countdown, part of the Australian-owned Progressive Enterprises group, supplied Weet-Bix, bread and hot chocolate, and volunteers at the two schools prepared the food for children who needed it.
Red Cross acting director-general Graham Wrigley said the scheme was inspired by a similar school breakfast programme run by the Red Cross in Australia.
He said the Red Cross was now drawing up a memorandum with Progressive to roll out the scheme nationally from next month.
"We are looking at a sustainable programme which will be a partnership with the schools where the schools will work with us to better the children in our schools," he said.
"A good meal for the children means they get better results in their studies. So we are looking at the long haul."
In contrast, Tasti Products marketing manager Adrian Cook said his company's 100,000 snack bars for KidsCan would be a one-off initially - "then let's see where that goes".
"We have said all along that it depends on the need. It's not going to be a free handout that goes on forever if there is not a need."
KidsCan general manager Julie Helson said last night that she had accepted the new offer on the basis that Tasti Products would work with the charity to develop a nutritious snack bar.
"That would enable us to almost double the number of kids that are feeding, from 3000 to 6000-8000," she said.
Earlier yesterday, speaking before Tasti made its offer, Ms Helson told the Herald that the existing Tasti bars were not suitable for schools. But last night she said Tasti's offer of 100,000 specially designed nutritious bars was so generous that she could not say no.
Mr Key confirmed that Mr Hall lives two doors away from him but said he had not been to Mr Hall's house, nor had Mr Hall been to his.
Education Minister Steve Maharey said the Labour Government would also support both new initiatives "as long as the school has clearly asked for that and wants it".
