Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:612;Page:9257] 
6.  
SUE KEDGLEY (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What steps is he taking this World Food Day to promote healthy eating in schools? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Promoting healthy eating in schools is an ongoing issue not just on one day of the year. The health and physical education curriculum provides students with opportunities to learn about healthy eating safe food handling and the influences of culture society and technology on food choices. The curriculum is complemented by a series of other initiatives such as the interagency Healthy Eating—Healthy Action strategy the Healthy Heart awards and the Health Promoting Schools initiative. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that allowing food corporations to advertise high-fat low-nutrition foods in school diaries—such as the one I have—branding sports equipment running reading programmes that reward children with fast-food vouchers and so forth undermines the efforts he has just underlined to promote healthy eating in schools and sends a message to children that high-fat low-nutrition foods are normal healthy foods; if not why not? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I have made my views on these matters clear for schools. I believe that schools have an important role in promoting healthy food choices to their pupils and although such activity promoting high-fat high-sugar foods is in my view irresponsible in the end it is a matter for the boards of trustees. 
Dave Hereora 
: Why is promoting healthy food choices in schools important? 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: That’s a tough one. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well it is a tougher question than that member will ever— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Carry on please. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Nutrition plays a huge part in the health of all New Zealanders. We want our children to get off to the right start and developing a healthy diet when young is an important part of that. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that schools should be advertising and marketing-free zones and what steps is he taking specifically other than making general statements of support to achieve that? 
Rod Donald 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did not hear half of the question asked by my colleague because of the guffaws of members over here. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the point was well made by the member. Members are entitled to ask their questions in silence. That is a fundamental part of our democratic process and I ask Sue Kedgley to ask the question again. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that all schools should be marketing and advertising-free zones and what specific steps is he taking to achieve that other than offering general support for the principle? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: No because I believe that there are benefits for schools in partnerships with commercial enterprises in some areas. But again I repeat my expectation that boards will behave responsibly and in the best interests of children’s welfare in determining those matters. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Has he asked his colleague the Minister of Health to assess the impact on the health of young New Zealanders in the health budget generally of allowing the advertising of low-nutrition foods and fizzy drinks in schools; if he has not will he do so? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I do not think that we need to do any major assessment in this area. We know that high-fat food is not good and that there are a lot of drinks in schools that are not good. The work I am doing with Sport and Recreation New Zealand and the Ministry of Education towards linking the work physical activity coordinators do with quality work in schools around nutrition is important. There is no point in a child playing sports after having eaten three pies and drunk a couple of bottles of coke. 
Sue Kedgley 
: I seek leave to table a school diary from a large school in Wellington which has a McDonald’s advertisement in the middle of it. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.