The number of Otago schools offering free breakfasts to its pupils has more than tripled in the past six years.
When Fonterra and Sanitarium established the KickStart Breakfast programme in February 2009, and started providing free breakfasts of Anchor milk and Weet-Bix for two days a week, seven Otago schools took up the offer.
But since the New Zealand Government joined the manufacturers as a supporter in May 2013, the KickStart programme has been extended to five days a week, and the number of schools in Otago offering the programme has jumped to 22.
All decile 1-10 primary, intermediate and secondary schools are eligible to receive the free breakfast.
Before the programme was expanded, 573 schools participated.
Now more than 95,000 breakfasts are served each week to an estimated 25,000 children in 791 schools, as part of the programme.
However, Social Development Minister Anne Tolley warned the statistics did not necessarily indicate an increase in the number of children living in poverty.
It might simply be the result of the KickStart programme being more readily available to schools, she said.
While acknowledging many low-income households were still struggling, Mrs Tolley said the latest Household Incomes Report showed child poverty had fallen 3%, and she believed there were many other reasons why demand for the programme had increased.
''There are many reasons why children might not have breakfast before school.''
Otago Primary Principals' Association chairwoman Elizabeth Cleverley agreed.
She said the issue was exacerbated by children going to bed too late and sleeping in, and not having enough time to eat breakfast.
It was important for families to establish a routine of getting up early enough to sit down and eat, rather than ''gulping it down'' on the run, she said.
''It's about setting the routine to make time so that breakfast is a pleasurable and organised event.''
Mrs Cleverley said the problem was multiplied for working parents who had three or four children to get ready for school in the morning.
''Even if you have one or two, it's a struggle.
''For families that have parents that are working, time is really slick in the morning. They are busy.''
Another significant contributor to the issue was many adults skipped breakfast, and Mrs Cleverley believed many children picked up on those cues.
''Children model what they see.
''They may hear that breakfast is good for you and that you need to have a good breakfast, but if they see that the adults are not doing the same thing, there is probably a disconnect there.''
The increase in children needing free breakfasts in schools might also be simply because of children forgetting to bring their lunch to school, she said.
Mrs Tolley said the Government recognised that good nutrition was important in helping children learn and, whatever the causes of children missing breakfast, she believed everyone had a stake in getting children a good education.
''Which is why the Government, corporates and the community are playing their part with KickStart.''
