Yesterday, I looked into Seymour’s school lunch provider and found out it was Compass Group - a group that has had a long list of food quality issues and settled out of court for corruption and bribery of officials.
I wonder what the grand plan of Sushi Seymour really is?
What are the outcomes he’s working towards?
With so many people out of work and so many leaving for Oz it will be hard to sustain any public services at all, even if health, education, transport and other necessities become user-pays.
I know that cities are where most voters live but Seymour and his corrupt coalition cronies need to visit rural towns like Raetihi, Taumarunui and many, many others to see the outcomes of successive government policies.
No government services, no banks, no doctors, two-hour drive for health services and dentists, and on and on and on …
With all the focus on the WEF from the disenchanted over the period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic we have let Ayn Rand’s acolytes sneak in the back door. Or maybe the front door?
Look forward to your exposé. Thanks for all your work!
I was on Youtube today and for some reason it autoplayed the Parliamentary protests during Covid - fire, anger, violence. What a juxtaposition with the union protests.
Yes it's farcical that we have actually let in the real deal foreign interests thoroughly in the door - but now I know what I do, and have learned rapidly over the last many months it's clear to me how it all came to be, and what they will plan to do.
Exactly Bill, but then Taumarunui area population is about 50% Māori who are actively being undermined by this govt, so we do see the worst outcomes there. You can still get a phone consultation though…🙄
If anyone has had the misfortune of being in hospital for any time, the Compass food is often inedible. Think how that makes a patient feel. And I always fear for the non English patients being presented with this fare. It beggars belief that NZ needs an international group to provide ‘food’ to us. If NZ recipes are more expensive, it may have something to do with the state of the economy. I bet they’d taste good though.
The difference between you and this government is you care - including about people who do not serve your interests. Our government has zero empathy and it has also zero genuine business sense, and it's a real pity where they are taking us. I see their plan, and it's very ugly, but it's not easy to change anymore.
A school principle in Lower Hutt the other day said one of our top providers in NZ looked at this deal and found there was no way they could make it work for the money offered. But an international conglomerate with a history of questionable quality, serving sizes and negligible care can do it - and this is just about optics and not genuinely delivering healthy lunches, in my opinion.
A school principal the other week said there was no provider in NZ who could provide at this cost, including transport.
And .. well horse meat is cheap, so is processed gunk. Oh imagine the burden on our health care system - oh that's right - the more private patients the better for Reti and Levy and why do we think Luxon liquidated his property - is there a good investment coming up we think?
It's got to the point where I don't even feel It's hyperbole to say this Government is rotten to the core. School lunches just the latest revelation to add to the lingering stench that follows them wherever they go....tobacco, the environment, fast tracking, health, education, public service, Conservation, crap farming practices (pun intended), Prebble, Levy..... God, what next?
you missed the latest one cancelling school bus stops over 600 nationwide (I think) Blaming Labour for not cancelling bus stops in the last 6 years. Lets cancel bus stops and make it harder for children to attend school. They are astounding gathering money for Mr Charter Shite
Thinking on this excellent report, I cast my mind back to Luxon's comment in the election run up, that National and Act were naturally aligned. or words to that effect. So written questions to Parliament about the selection of a food provider with such a bad record. I see they are not appointing a Government Scientist, so the sacking of nutritionists is no surprise. So next march Signs should say "What is in the lunches from Compass? Hope it is not listeria horsemeat or worse"
Agreed, Patricia - I think it's becoming increasingly clear they are one party on most matters and align and strategise to get all their goals through.
Loved this column MT! The food at present is not worthy to be fed to pigs, let alone hungry children!! It looks Ike Concentration Camp meals - just one ech day!! The photos of previous mess, before Seeless meddled, looked quite delicious AND healthy!!
Yes the old one is food we would give to kids whom we love and care for - the next generation.
And many countries offer school lunches including the UK, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Germany etc
What's good for our children is good for the country.
Too many don't understand that one doesn't need an immediate monetary return for it to be money well spent - intrinsic benefits are valuable - but more than enough.
For example, a parent's love - we can't put a price on it but most of us realise that it's worth its weight in gold and more.
And the difference in impact/result is inordinate and indeterminable but real.
Silly Seymour. The only way these folks' lies get caught up is with material evidence e.g the ferries and the lunches - everything else is too nebulous for most folks.
So let's focus on the material!
I know I am preaching to the choir but your comment inspired those thoughts.
These school lunches seem to be delivered in aluminium foil containers.
Aluminium is energy expensive to produce.
Aluminium is recyclable in Aotearoa New Zealand, but ONLY if cleaned.
Are schools cleaning these dishes and recycling them?
In 2025 it seems ecologically and economically irresponsible to produce, and throw away, on a daily basis, thousands of single-use food containers.
And cutlery?
And since there has been much discussion about the health benefits of feeding kids well:
Aluminium foil is considered food safe BELOW 200° F. Can the company supplying these meals confirm that these dishes have not been heated above 200°F? And, as it is generally accepted practice to NOT have aluminium foil in direct contact with foods that are high in salt and or acid (like tomatoes) has the company preparing these meals confirmed that they are following best practice? Because although only small amounts of aluminium will leach into food that is in direct contact with aluminium foil, eating food every day that is in direct contact with aluminium foil means our kids have an obvious accumulative exposure.
Apparently this company have the Department of Defence contract with very bad feedback on the quality and taste - and I think they were chosen solely on price - so Seymour could take the money and use it for his hobby projects e.g. charter schools. At the beginning of the year, that was the discussion he was mentioning ie. he needed money for his private schools (and to start privatising education) and he wanted to cut school lunches altogether.
After the political pressure, they caved and decided to hand our kids slop - and apparently smaller servings with no nutritional guidelines, and a piss poor company with a very bad record of serving school lunches because - self interest - while claiming they are still serving kids.
I heard that in NZ they have such a poor record they had lost most of their contracts already - so ... that's exactly the type of care factor David Seymour and this government have for our children - especially a demographic that isn't in their voter base in general i.e. the poor ones....
Love the ‘fats’ instead of ‘facts’ Judith, you may not have intended it but oh so appropriate probably 😉…. And likely, trans fat too I bet. Just trying to keep it light as I can feel my anger simmering… I’ll give this coalition one thing, their absolute thoroughness in leaving no stone unturned in lowering standards, ignoring and completely undermining anyone in the business of caring for and meeting the needs of Kiwis.
I wonder what the grand plan of Sushi Seymour really is?
What are the outcomes he’s working towards?
With so many people out of work and so many leaving for Oz it will be hard to sustain any public services at all, even if health, education, transport and other necessities become user-pays.
I know that cities are where most voters live but Seymour and his corrupt coalition cronies need to visit rural towns like Raetihi, Taumarunui and many, many others to see the outcomes of successive government policies.
No government services, no banks, no doctors, two-hour drive for health services and dentists, and on and on and on …
I think over the last year the crescendo has gotten higher and it's clear what the plan is.
I will return later to comment further - as have some responsibilities I need to attend to - good to see you Bill.
Bill l’ll write a post to answer.
With all the focus on the WEF from the disenchanted over the period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic we have let Ayn Rand’s acolytes sneak in the back door. Or maybe the front door?
Look forward to your exposé. Thanks for all your work!
I was on Youtube today and for some reason it autoplayed the Parliamentary protests during Covid - fire, anger, violence. What a juxtaposition with the union protests.
Yes it's farcical that we have actually let in the real deal foreign interests thoroughly in the door - but now I know what I do, and have learned rapidly over the last many months it's clear to me how it all came to be, and what they will plan to do.
Thank you for you too - I appreciate it all.
Exactly Bill, but then Taumarunui area population is about 50% Māori who are actively being undermined by this govt, so we do see the worst outcomes there. You can still get a phone consultation though…🙄
If anyone has had the misfortune of being in hospital for any time, the Compass food is often inedible. Think how that makes a patient feel. And I always fear for the non English patients being presented with this fare. It beggars belief that NZ needs an international group to provide ‘food’ to us. If NZ recipes are more expensive, it may have something to do with the state of the economy. I bet they’d taste good though.
The difference between you and this government is you care - including about people who do not serve your interests. Our government has zero empathy and it has also zero genuine business sense, and it's a real pity where they are taking us. I see their plan, and it's very ugly, but it's not easy to change anymore.
A school principle in Lower Hutt the other day said one of our top providers in NZ looked at this deal and found there was no way they could make it work for the money offered. But an international conglomerate with a history of questionable quality, serving sizes and negligible care can do it - and this is just about optics and not genuinely delivering healthy lunches, in my opinion.
Thanks for being here, Roger.
There is an interesting article on stuff about the very same subject. Written by a former supplier spelling out the costs of supplying school lunches.
From what I see, you'd be hard pushed to deliver a marmite sandwich for 3 bucks, although that maybe better for you than gloop through a straw.
A school principal the other week said there was no provider in NZ who could provide at this cost, including transport.
And .. well horse meat is cheap, so is processed gunk. Oh imagine the burden on our health care system - oh that's right - the more private patients the better for Reti and Levy and why do we think Luxon liquidated his property - is there a good investment coming up we think?
And now, with Tama Potaka appointing Richard Prebble to The Waitangi Tribunal - utterly sickening - they have reached the TOTALLY EVIL point
Yes that appointment was VERY telling. And quite definitive Lesley. Will elaborate another point
This begs the question, did the compass group bribe wee mental davey to get the contract
Of all the dreadful things Seymour is doing, this has to be among the most distressing. Shame on him.
Who doesn't care about children?
The ACT Party - And National.
I imagine this is what prison food looks like. Getting those kids ready for the boot camps?
I despair at the ways this government is acting, and all the worst of it seems to be driven by ACT.
I'm increasingly of the view that ACT = National Party
It's got to the point where I don't even feel It's hyperbole to say this Government is rotten to the core. School lunches just the latest revelation to add to the lingering stench that follows them wherever they go....tobacco, the environment, fast tracking, health, education, public service, Conservation, crap farming practices (pun intended), Prebble, Levy..... God, what next?
What next? It's not so much the surprise anymore but the slow, inexorable sound of the oncoming tractor at this point.
you missed the latest one cancelling school bus stops over 600 nationwide (I think) Blaming Labour for not cancelling bus stops in the last 6 years. Lets cancel bus stops and make it harder for children to attend school. They are astounding gathering money for Mr Charter Shite
There’s nothing consistent in what they do at all because their real goals are far from what they claim. So dishonourable
Thinking on this excellent report, I cast my mind back to Luxon's comment in the election run up, that National and Act were naturally aligned. or words to that effect. So written questions to Parliament about the selection of a food provider with such a bad record. I see they are not appointing a Government Scientist, so the sacking of nutritionists is no surprise. So next march Signs should say "What is in the lunches from Compass? Hope it is not listeria horsemeat or worse"
Agreed, Patricia - I think it's becoming increasingly clear they are one party on most matters and align and strategise to get all their goals through.
hey Tui, do you have a reference for the bribe settlement? I am guessing this was outside of NZ, but it could be enough to make them invalid in terms of being able to bid for contracts as per NZ procurement rules. https://www.procurement.govt.nz/assets/procurement-property/documents/government-procurement-rules.pdf
It’s on the wiki and corporate watch sites above. They have the DOD contract so assume they meet guidelines
Loved this column MT! The food at present is not worthy to be fed to pigs, let alone hungry children!! It looks Ike Concentration Camp meals - just one ech day!! The photos of previous mess, before Seeless meddled, looked quite delicious AND healthy!!
Yes the old one is food we would give to kids whom we love and care for - the next generation.
And many countries offer school lunches including the UK, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Germany etc
What's good for our children is good for the country.
Too many don't understand that one doesn't need an immediate monetary return for it to be money well spent - intrinsic benefits are valuable - but more than enough.
For example, a parent's love - we can't put a price on it but most of us realise that it's worth its weight in gold and more.
And the difference in impact/result is inordinate and indeterminable but real.
Silly Seymour. The only way these folks' lies get caught up is with material evidence e.g the ferries and the lunches - everything else is too nebulous for most folks.
So let's focus on the material!
I know I am preaching to the choir but your comment inspired those thoughts.
Agree with you completely Judith!
These school lunches seem to be delivered in aluminium foil containers.
Aluminium is energy expensive to produce.
Aluminium is recyclable in Aotearoa New Zealand, but ONLY if cleaned.
Are schools cleaning these dishes and recycling them?
In 2025 it seems ecologically and economically irresponsible to produce, and throw away, on a daily basis, thousands of single-use food containers.
And cutlery?
And since there has been much discussion about the health benefits of feeding kids well:
Aluminium foil is considered food safe BELOW 200° F. Can the company supplying these meals confirm that these dishes have not been heated above 200°F? And, as it is generally accepted practice to NOT have aluminium foil in direct contact with foods that are high in salt and or acid (like tomatoes) has the company preparing these meals confirmed that they are following best practice? Because although only small amounts of aluminium will leach into food that is in direct contact with aluminium foil, eating food every day that is in direct contact with aluminium foil means our kids have an obvious accumulative exposure.
Is it necessary to use aluminium?
Apparently this company have the Department of Defence contract with very bad feedback on the quality and taste - and I think they were chosen solely on price - so Seymour could take the money and use it for his hobby projects e.g. charter schools. At the beginning of the year, that was the discussion he was mentioning ie. he needed money for his private schools (and to start privatising education) and he wanted to cut school lunches altogether.
After the political pressure, they caved and decided to hand our kids slop - and apparently smaller servings with no nutritional guidelines, and a piss poor company with a very bad record of serving school lunches because - self interest - while claiming they are still serving kids.
I heard that in NZ they have such a poor record they had lost most of their contracts already - so ... that's exactly the type of care factor David Seymour and this government have for our children - especially a demographic that isn't in their voter base in general i.e. the poor ones....
Love the ‘fats’ instead of ‘facts’ Judith, you may not have intended it but oh so appropriate probably 😉…. And likely, trans fat too I bet. Just trying to keep it light as I can feel my anger simmering… I’ll give this coalition one thing, their absolute thoroughness in leaving no stone unturned in lowering standards, ignoring and completely undermining anyone in the business of caring for and meeting the needs of Kiwis.
Trans fat and chemicals -
Highly relevant
ThanksKSJ! It was unintentional, but seemed appropriate- after I’d pressed send!!