Nourishing the next generation of Kiwi kids with KickStart Breakfast

KickStart Breakfast is more than breakfast across Aotearoa

Every school morning across Aotearoa, thousands of tamariki and rangatahi arrive at school knowing they won’t start the day hungry.

That’s because of KickStart Breakfast. Since 2009, the programme has helped remove one of the biggest barriers to learning, food insecurity. What started as a simple idea has grown into a nationwide programme, now supporting more than 45,000 young people every school day in over 1,500 schools.

KickStart Breakfast is a partnership between Sanitarium, Fonterra and the Ministry of Social Development that has provided over 80 million nutritious breakfasts of milk and Weet-Bix, over the past 17 years. These meals do more than fill stomachs. They help students arrive at school settled, focused and ready to learn. Teachers consistently report better attendance, concentration and engagement when Kai is available first thing in the morning.

At the heart of the programme are around 5,000 volunteers who show up every school day. They create safe, welcoming spaces where students can share kai, connect with caring adults and build positive relationships. Breakfast clubs have become places of belonging, strengthening wellbeing, confidence and community.

KickStart Breakfast is more than breakfast.

It’s a daily foundation that helps Kiwi kids learn, grow and thrive.

Learn more here: Kickstart Breakfast