Researchers at EIT and the University of Auckland (UoA) are calling for input from Hawke’s Bay schools to help assess the value of the Government’s free school lunch programme Ka Ora, Ka Ako, amidst threats of funding cuts.

Ashleigh Kearns-Steed, who will be graduating with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Management) on Friday, says she was overcome with emotion when she was asked to be one of the two Hawke’s Bay valedictorians.

Rangatahi Māori in Hawke’s Bay have launched a health and wellbeing kaupapa that aims to reflect what resonates with today’s youth.
Manaora Rangatahi Guidelines, which were launched last Monday (March 4) at Waipatu Marae, is part of Nourishing Hawke’s Bay: He wairua tō te kai, a collaborative local project between Te Kura i Awarua Ranagahau Māori Research Centre at EIT | Te Pūkenga and the University of Auckland (UoA).

A 20-week social media campaign, driven by rangatahi Māori aims to spread crucial messages about nutrition and well-being across New Zealand.

The Manaora Rangatahi Guidelines is part of Nourishing Hawke’s Bay: He wairua tō te kai, a collaborative local project between EIT | Te Pūkenga and University of Auckland (UoA).

The Government’s free school lunch programme Ka Ora, Ka Ako has high potential to benefit students, their whānau, and communities, but needs continued investment, a review article by EIT | Te Pūkenga and University of Auckland (UoA) researchers has found.

Researchers are calling for the government to increase its support for free school lunches.

EIT Te Pukenga Māori and indigenous research Professor David Tipene Leach says a full stomach is crucial to a child’s learning.

“I’ll put it like this, things get a little easier for them. Worries don’t weigh down on them, because their stomach is full and so too is their soul,” Tipene Leach says.

Professor Boyd Swinburn, a nutrition and global health expert, has joined Te Kura i Awarua, the EIT | Te Pūkenga Rangahau Māori Centre, to continue significant research into food security for children in Hawke’s Bay.

Dr Rachael Glassey (Te Atihaunui-a-Papārangi) spent 10 years studying and researching in Australia, but it has been a privilege for her to return to Hawke’s Bay to work on an important study focused on children’s wellbeing.

Moving from food security to food sovereignty requires mātauranga Māori and a renewal of relationships with indigenous food systems, EIT | Te Pūkenga Māori and Indigenous Research Professor David Tipene-Leach says.

In this new feature we interview staff members who are active researchers. In the spotlight Kirsten Harrild, an Assistant Research Fellow in the newly created Te Kura i Awarua Rangahau Māori Centre at EIT | Te Pūkenga.