Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board in the Far North is working this week to find a way to continue providing school lunches for hungry pupils.
The Ministry of Social Development has told the Board it can't continue using some of the money it receives through a social services contract with the ministry to provide lunches for a group of school children.
Trust Board Chairperson Raymond Subritzky says the initiative by Te Aupouri to help about 15 children wasn't taken lightly.
He says the iwi's social services division investigated the home environment of each child before deciding to help them.
Mr Subritzky says the Board has been helping pupils in six schools in the Kaitaia area and is keen to continue providing them with lunches.
He says the Board isn't prepared to allow pupils to spend all day at school hungry.
