New sports kit for local schools

Wainuiomata primary and intermediate school students not only have full tummies but are now the owners of a suite of new sports kit, thanks to their local Pita Pit.

The schools receive lunches from Pita Pit as part of the Ministry of Education’s Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme, with local Pita Pit staff rising at sunrise to supply over 33,800 lunches to the two Wainuiomata schools this year.

Three stores have whipped up over 113,000 lunches for Wellington kids in the first two terms of 2023, and the lunch provider wants more schools to get involved.

Committed to being a fresh and healthy grab and go alternative, Pita Pit also wants to encourage and “level the playground” across the motu, so have sourced 1,200 sports balls to distribute at primary, intermediate, and senior schools and kura.

Duane Dalton, Pita Pit New Zealand CEO and chair of the Tania Dalton Foundation in honour of his late wife, is eager to see even more Kiwi kids bolster their healthy eating habits with outdoor and device-free play and works with the foundation to provide the sports gear.

“Giving kids the means to make healthier choices for their bodies not only sets them up for a great day at school, but for a better future as well. We’re always keen to help more schools.

“The healthy school lunches programme has made such a significant impact to guaranteeing kids have the nutrients they need on the daily, and with the addition of sports gear we’re hoping to play a big part in these kids’ focus and success in the classroom,” Duane says.

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Pita Pit’s involvement in the school lunch programme dates back to 2019, where a successful pilot in 2020 for Rotorua and Invercargill schools meant the company was well equipped to become a supplier for the government’s healthy school lunch programme from 2020 onwards.

School selection into the Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme is determined by an equity index, with all children at a school receiving healthy lunches to remove the stigma often associated with needing a helping hand.

The Ministry of Education says the programme aims to reduce food insecurity for all kids by supplying nutritious meals that set kids up to learn well.

“It’s a programme well worth getting involved in,” Duane says.

“The Ministry of Education’s Ka Ora Ka

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Ako team have done a fantastic job identifying kura and schools so kids get a solid lunch and remove nutrition insecurities to see them through the school day.

“I’d encourage all schools with a need to contact their MoE Senior Advisor to discuss their options, or we can assist with that communication process too.

“We have a dedicated team with extensive knowledge on menu options, dietary requirements, and general logistics who can offer help with your decision making,” Duane says.

Following Pita Pit’s “better for you” food philosophy, the lunches are developed by an in-house chef to meet the government guidelines and fuel Kiwi kids.

Meals low in saturated fat, salt and added sugars plus a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and salads can be highly customised based on student requirements and to minimise landfill wastage – a key sustainability commitment for Pita Pit.

Franchisee Stephan van Rensburg from Lower Hutt Pita Pit is thrilled to present its local school with the equipment, along with healthy lunches for the tamariki.

Stephan delivered a bag and a box of sports balls plus a ball pump to Wainuiomata Intermediate School on 7 August.

The bag and the box contained balls for four sports – Football, Basketball, Rugby Union and Rugby League.

A founding partner of the Tania Dalton Foundation, Pita Pit has surpassed half a million dollars in sports equipment donations to schools since the charity’s inception in 2017.

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