Dispute over responsibility for mouldy lunches at Christchurch school

Wednesday 3 December 2025 · 4 outlets · 5 reports · updated Wed 3 Dec 2025, 8:07pm

In this story David Seymour, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Food Safety, Peggy Burrows, Haeata Community Campus

New Zealand Food Safety investigators believe mouldy lunches served at Haeata Community Campus were likely due to human error and left unrefrigerated for days. Principal Peggy Burrows denies these claims, citing a systems failure in the contract. David Seymour has maintained his comments regarding the cause of the contaminated meals.

How they headlined it

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1. StuffWed 3 Dec 2025, 8:56am

   Seymour not backing down on mouldy school lunch comments, principal says ‘no way’ (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldWed 3 Dec 2025, 9:46am

   David Seymour blames Christchurch school for mouldy lunches, not supplier; principal denies claim (opens in new tab)

   • MPI says Christchurch school’s mouldy lunches ‘probably human error’ (opens in new tab) Wed 3 Dec 2025, 6:11pm
3. RNZWed 3 Dec 2025, 5:56pm

   Food safety authority doubles down on mouldy lunches being school's fault (opens in new tab)

4. The PressWed 3 Dec 2025, 8:07pm

   MPI investigators still blame school for mouldy lunches, say CCTV evidence insufficient (opens in new tab)