fbpx
Print this page
Monday, 19 March 2012 16:10

Milk flows in Northland schools

Written by 

Northland community leaders gathered at Manaia View School in Whangarei yesterday to celebrate the first day of the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme.

Leanne Otene, Principal of Manaia View, says the school wanted to recognise today as an important milestone for Northland children and the Northland community alike.

"Today is very exciting for all of us. When it comes to our kids, improving their nutrition is an absolute priority and it's wonderful to be able to offer students a serving of milk every school day," says Otene.

Manaia View is one of more than 100 Northland schools that dished out milk to around 10,000 children today – a move that Chris Farrelly, CEO of Manaia Health, sees as a game-changer for the wellbeing of New Zealand children.

"Milk is vital for development, providing essential energy, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Providing free milk to children in school will ensure that it becomes a fundamental part of our children's diets," says Farrelly.

"Fonterra's effort to ensure our kids are getting the milk nutrition they need is one that will significantly impact not only our children, but our whole community, in a positive way."

Fonterra announced the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme late last year and has since been working with Northland schools and communities to set up the pilot in a way that makes it as easy as possible for schools to participate.

The co-op will monitor the pilot for the first three terms, with the intention of rolling it out nationwide in 2013, says Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings.

"Our motivation is to get more Kiwis drinking more milk, and this starts with our kids.

"Milk is without a doubt, one of the most nutritious foods there is and as leaders in dairy nutrition, we want to do what we can to make it more accessible to New Zealanders," says Spierings.

Fonterra is still accepting registrations for the pilot. To find out more or register a school please visit www.fonterramilkforschools.com.

More like this

El Niño Summer: Terravest on Preparing Dairy Sheds Now

After a winter of frozen pipework and refrigeration call-outs, Terravest chief executive Kip Bodle and chief operating officer Luke Walker explain why this El Niño summer calls for a different kind of preparation, before the first heatwave finds the weak points for you.

Why 'Fork to Farm' Beats Farm to Fork, Expert Says

In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.

Featured

Editorial: The Value of Credibility

OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.

Kaikōura Families Get School Run Lifeline After Storm

Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.

National

Machinery & Products