A principal's sceptical about the Government's ambitious school lunch budget. 

The Government says it's saving $130 million a year by reducing the cost per meal from $8 to $3. 

Schools preparing meals internally will get $4 a student to keep hiring people to prepare food. 

Greymouth High School principal Samantha Mortimer told Ryan Bridge that hungry children will eat anything, but they deserve high quality food.  

She’s questioning how everything will be done for that price, as it’s not just about the food, there are costs around production, wages, and transport. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A principal's sceptical about the Government's ambitious school lunch budget.&nbsp;
The Government says it's saving $130 million a year by reducing the cost per meal from $8 to $3.&nbsp;
Schools preparing meals internally will get $4 a student to keep hiring people to prepare food.&nbsp;
Greymouth High School principal Samantha Mortimer told Ryan Bridge that hungry children will eat anything, but they deserve high quality food. &nbsp;
She’s questioning how everything will be done for that price, as it’s not just about the food, there are costs around production, wages, and transport.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Samantha Mortimer: Greymouth High School on the Government's ambitious school lunch budget

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f4964d28-6b43-40ce-940b-b2110142090e/transcript

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 9th of September 2026, new numbers on how students are are comparing with the rest of the world and it's good news, Secondary Principals Association Chairman Steve McCracken shares his thoughts.

Nationals got an alternative to a bed tax, redirecting international visitor levy money to councils, Queenstown Mayor John Glover tells Andrew where the money will go.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand says supports Labour's policy for changes to Emissions Trading Scheme; Chair Kate Acland shares her thoughts. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Israel unleashing four countermeasures against the UK after Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament the UK will ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 9th of September 2026, new numbers on how students are are comparing with the rest of the world and it's good news, Secondary Principals Association Chairman Steve McCracken shares his thoughts.
Nationals got an alternative to a bed tax, redirecting international visitor levy money to councils, Queenstown Mayor John Glover tells Andrew where the money will go.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand says supports Labour's policy for changes to Emissions Trading Scheme; Chair Kate Acland shares her thoughts.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Israel unleashing four countermeasures against the UK after Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament the UK will ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 09 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/66a35575-b9c6-4178-9237-b4bf012acb83/transcript

Beef and Lamb New Zealand is welcoming Labour's plan to review the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Labour says ETS prices are too low to meaningfully cut emissions and make planting exotic forests more attractive than growing food.

It wants farmers to adopt new technology to reduce emissions and isn't campaigning on making them pay directly for agricultural emissions.

Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland told Andrew Dickens Labour is starting to recognise how important farming is to the economy.

She says Kiwis are among the most emissions efficient farmers in the world - and stopping farming isn't the way to cut agricultural emissions. 

Beef and Lamb New Zealand is welcoming Labour's plan to review the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Labour says ETS prices are too low to meaningfully cut emissions and make planting exotic forests more attractive than growing food.
It wants farmers to adopt new technology to reduce emissions and isn't campaigning on making them pay directly for agricultural emissions.
Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland told Andrew Dickens Labour is starting to recognise how important farming is to the economy.
She says Kiwis are among the most emissions efficient farmers in the world - and stopping farming isn't the way to cut agricultural emissions.&nbsp;

Kate Acland: Beef and Lamb Chair on Labour's plan to review the ETS

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/87f14e36-1d1e-4ea7-8684-b4bf012b7ba7/transcript

Well, the jungle drums are starting to thrum for the fast-track regime. 

Word on the street is that legal action is coming for a number of the proposals currently before the committee.

Meanwhile there was a fiery Auckland Council meeting yesterday full of anger at residential fast track developers.

Mayor Wayne Brown has vowed to be a thorn in the side of subdivisions looking to circumvent the council, considering telling fast-track developers – and future residents – it won’t provide or fund basic services to them.

The problem is the developers are using the new system to gazump planning rules. 

Fast track was designed to speed up the process of getting consents but not to supplant the regulations currently in place. 

There's been a stampede by housing developers who want quick consents, but they also want more latitude for their plans. 

A prime example is the re-development of the Devonport township. 

The developers there have proposed a series of 8 storey buildings.  

But the Unitary Plan currently only allows 4. 

That's got locals concerned that the picturesque main road will be overwhelmed, but they'll have no say

The fast track is there to make the gaining of consents faster but not to fundamentally change the plan that's currently in place. 

The great success so far is Ports of Tauranga whose plan was stuck in bureaucratic limbo for 7 years.  

Now in a matter of months the plan has been approved. But it is still a plan that adheres to planning regulations in place. 

So expect some expensive legal action as locals and councils put the spanner in the works of the developers trying to push the boundaries for a quick buck.

Well, the jungle drums are starting to thrum for the fast-track regime.&nbsp;
Word on the street is that legal action is coming for a number of the proposals currently before the committee.
Meanwhile there was a fiery Auckland Council meeting yesterday full of anger at residential fast track developers.
Mayor Wayne Brown has vowed to be a thorn in the side of subdivisions looking to circumvent the council, considering telling fast-track developers – and future residents – it won’t provide or fund basic services to them.
The problem is the developers are using the new system to gazump planning rules.&nbsp;
Fast track was designed to speed up the process of getting consents but not to supplant the regulations currently in place.&nbsp;
There's been a stampede by housing developers who want quick consents, but they also want more latitude for their plans.&nbsp;
A prime example is the re-development of the Devonport township.&nbsp;
The developers there have proposed a series of 8 storey buildings. &nbsp;
But the Unitary Plan currently only allows 4.&nbsp;
That's got locals concerned that the picturesque main road will be overwhelmed, but they'll have no say
The fast track is there to make the gaining of consents faster but not to fundamentally change the plan that's currently in place.&nbsp;
The great success so far is Ports of Tauranga whose plan was stuck in bureaucratic limbo for 7 years. &nbsp;
Now in a matter of months the plan has been approved. But it is still a plan that adheres to planning regulations in place.&nbsp;
So expect some expensive legal action as locals and councils put the spanner in the works of the developers trying to push the boundaries for a quick buck.

Andrew Dickens: The jungle drums are starting to thrum for the fast-track regime

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e2a08ca0-e7ca-4994-8d29-b4bf012ab3f3/transcript

Samantha Mortimer: Greymouth High School on the Government's ambitious school lunch budget

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