The Good Bite 18 September 2026

Friday 18 September

The Te Wiki O Te Reo Edition

Welcome to the final Good Bite of term 3, as we come to the end of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, time really does fly when you are having fun. Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) is an important opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate this beautiful language and the rich cultural heritage it represents. It reminds us that language is more than words; it carries an identity, history, values, and connection. By embracing te reo Māori in our workplaces, we contribute to a culture of inclusion, respect, and inclusivity. Whether it is learning a new phrase, improving our pronunciation, or simply using te reo Māori in our everyday

conversations, every small step helps strengthen and preserve this taonga (treasure) for future generations while reflecting the diverse and inclusive organisation The School Lunch Collective aspires to be.

To kick us off this week, on the back of the successful Chicken Pasta Salad that we sent out a few weeks ago, we decided that another salad will go down just as well, this week we will be introducing the Chicken Pineapple Pasta salad, and we will love to hear your feedback

regarding how the tamariki enjoyed it. As we start planning term 4 menus, we just want to remind you of the two brand new meals that we will be serving, and the changes that you can expect to see in term 4. Two of our new dishes, Curried Mince with Potatoes, and Sweet and Sour Chicken with Rice will be served to our year 9+ student in a 300g portion size, this

means that you will get an extra few mouthfuls of our tasty new offering. This does however mean that on those days, there will be no snacks served with the meal. This is all happening in preparation for term 1 of 2027 when all senior meals will be served in the new 300g size.

You will be able to tell the difference in size from a very clear marking on the meal label. Please also not the labels on the mixed cambro bins will now look like this, allowing you to see at a quick glance what the mixed bins contain. We hope that this will make it easier for you, and would love to hear your feedback on whether or not it does.

Last week saw our most popular dish introduced nationwide, and we thank you for all the positive feedback received - this makes us super proud. We have listened to your feedback and will be introducing new meals for term four and beyond. Below are just a few examples of what kura out there are telling us…

"I just wanted to thank you for yesterday's lunch, it was the best received lunch we have ever had"

"Well the lunch today went down a treat.....to the point of we've had to monitor hard making sure only 1 each."

"Just letting you know, what a hit the pizza bread was today, the kids loved it!!"

For those out there that love pizza bread - this meal is back on 21st October and 11th November. We know it’s a student favourite and suggest you increase your numbers on the ordering portal to match the demand for this lunch.

Speaking of the portal, we have some very important news to share with you regarding the portal for the last week of term 4 (14-18 December 2026). That week will see the portal closed for orders, so you will need to inform your SLC Area Manager if you are requiring meals for that week and how many. A more detailed email will be sent out with more clearly defined instructions on how and what you need to do.

We also ask that as a lot of our schools will be sending students on study leave early in November, so will be requiring less meals, that you go into the portal and adjust the meal requirements for those dates, as well as adding your last day that you require meals for 2026. Our SLC team will be in touch as term 4 goes by, to assist where we can and provide guidance for the portal changes.

This week’s team profile is Stefanie from Christchurch:

Area Manager for Christchurch, Blenheim and Nelson & Acting Regional Manager South Island

Born in Germany, Stef came to Australia and New Zealand on a working holiday visa… and the rest, as they say, is history!

With a background as a chef and hospitality manager, Stef joined Compass Group 15 years ago as part of the Business & Industry sector.

In November last year, she joined the School Lunch Collective in the newly created role of Area Manager for Christchurch Blenheim and Nelson.

Based at the Christchurch production kitchen, the team on the ground has welcomed her with open arms, something she is immensely grateful for every day. Stefanie prides herself on being available and approachable to teachers and principals, and loves spending as much time as possible out in schools

(something she never expected to say 25 years ago), getting to know the teams and students.

Being German, there’s probably a little bit of the perfectionist in Stef - she likes things done properly, processes followed, food safety and health and safety being her passion!

Outside of work, Stefanie is mum to two teenage boys and loves spending time with them, particularly during the holidays. When she’s not working, you will often find her in the mountains running or hiking - preferably somewhere with absolutely no phone reception!

Giving back to the community is also important to Stef, volunteering with Search and Rescue whenever needed and contributing her time to a large Christchurch charity organisation.

Stefanie is proud to be part of the School Lunch Collective and looks forward to continuing to connect with schools, teams and the communities we serve.

Ko te manako ia i pai katoa ngā kōrero o "The Good Bite" i te wiki nei. Nā runga i tēnā kia pai te wīkene e heke mai ana.

Ngā mihi nui,

The School Lunch Collective