Cheers... come to the party

The co-op is launching the national scheme on its own, but says it would welcome co-sponsorship. A total of 350,000 primary school children throughout New Zealand will be offered a free serving of milk every school day from next year, as part of the scheme.

Fonterra group general manager global cooperative social responsibility, Carly Robinson, says it is open to talks with the Government and others. She says some "in-kind partners" are helping with logistics. However, the co-op is the sole funder of the scheme and is prepared to spend "a substantial amount" on its own.

 "One area of support we need from the Government is the level of health impact over time from the Milk for Schools programme," Robinson says.

After a successful trial in Northland schools this year, the national scheme was launched last week at Hillpark Primary School in South Auckland by chief executive Theo Spierings and All Blacks captain and Fonterra ambassador Riche McCaw. Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne was also present.

Spierings says Fonterra is committed to Milk for Schools because it will make a lasting difference to the health of New Zealand's children.

"We want Kiwis to grow up drinking milk because it's good for them and we are proud this programme will give every primary school kid the chance to enjoy this nutritious product.

"New Zealand is the largest exporter of dairy products in the world, but at home we're not drinking as much milk as we used to. We want to be the dairy nutrition capital of the world and this starts with our kids."

Research by the University of Auckland has shown that children's milk consumption in the Northland community, at school and at home, has significantly increased since the pilot began.