Turei claimed up to 90% of kids in schools go hungry

In Parliament yesterday:

Metiria Turei : Will the Prime Minister vote for the “Feed the Kids Bill ” in Parliament next week, so that all political parties can work with experts to develop the best legislative solution so that all of our kids are being fed at school?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY : No, and no for a very good reason. The vast majority of kids are actually fed by their parents. Their parents, irrespective of their economic circumstances, actually do a very good job of providing breakfast and lunch and the Government would far rather direct those resources, on a targeted basis, to those in need. The Government already supports the breakfast in schools programme. I am advised that 791 schools out of the 2,500 schools approximately in New Zealand take up that programme in some part, and I think the Government has got its target in the right direction.

Metiria Turei : Will he at least commit to his Government working with cross-party agreement to provide food in schools, given that KidsCan says that 23 percent, on average, and up to 90 percent of kids in schools are going without lunch every day?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY : I look forward to the quote from Julie that says that 90 percent of kids going to school, in the approximately 2,550 schools in New Zealand, are going without lunch. I hate to tell the member, but I reckon I have been to way more schools than she ever has. I have been a prolific visitor to schools in the 7 years I have been the Prime Minister. I will tell you what. Of the 500 schools I have been to, if 90 percent of the kids did not have lunch I would be pretty surprised, because I tell you what, I have seen a lot of them munching their way through lots and lots of lunches. If the member wants to come with me to a school, and I will name the school, and 90 percent of the kids do not have lunch, I personally will buy them lunch for the whole year.

So who was right. Was Turei correct that up to 90% of kids in schools are going without lunch every day?

No.

She later facebooked:

Bugger, I was unclear in my question today. I meant to say that Kidscan says about 23% on average and up to 90% of the kids in the schools it works with need lunch everyday. Not 90% of kids in all schools.

So 23% on average of the 449 schools (out of 2,500) that have Kidscan involved. That is around 4% overall.

Whether 10% or 90% its bad enough that our kids need government to help.

Actually it does matter whether it is 4% or 90%.

And the Government does help, as reference above. Bit what Turie wants isn’t the Government to help – but the Government to replace parents as the primary feeder of school children.

Hat Tip: Pete George