There is compelling evidence linking hunger in schools in Aotearoa New Zealand to lower educational achievement according to public health researchers.

Public health researchers are arguing against cuts to the free school lunch programme, saying there's even room to extend it to help more hungry children.

There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers.

Researcher Marnie Prickett warns consequences of costly leaky pipes could also include "water scarcity during summer months, damage to surrounding infrastructure from the leaking... and possible pathways for contamination".

Leaking water pipe across Aotearoa New Zealand could be costing the country upwards of $122 million a year according to public health researchers.

Nothing more than a marketing campaign, wasteful spending verging on criminal and it should go says ACT leader David Seymour about Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches programme. However, researchers say there's evidence the programme makes a difference.