The impact of the covid-19 level 4 lockdown on food security among whÄnau of decile 1 schools

Interviews with stakeholders in deprived Hawke’s Bay schools early in the COVID-19 lockdown docu-mented exacerbated food insecurity among school whanau. Our enquiry highlights the support role played by well-informed teacher aides and school–whanau networks, which were easily and inexpen-sively resourced, intuitive, proactive and collaborative, ensuring whanau access to appropriate support according to need. We expect our findings to further inform such initiatives in any further lockdown. Additionally, we posit that such school-based operations could become the nexus of a primary food-security hub, alongside the Lunches in Schools programme, working in a tailor-made fashion bespoke to whanau without a charity or welfare label. Given the recent well-resourced COVID-19-related investment into the business world and the ongoing lack of progress in the reduction of child poverty, in the post-COVID-19-lockdown environment, simple structural rearrangements for the chronically food insecure are likely to become politically acceptable to the nation. © 2021, Nga Pae o te Maramatanga. All rights reserved.