A Rotorua school is determined to make the free school lunches trial work.

Thirty schools in Rotorua and Hawke's Bay have been offered the free school lunch trial, but at least one has refused due to the cost of upgrading its kitchen to the required standard.

But principal of Rotorua's Kaitao Intermediate School Phil Palfrey is determined to make it work.

Mr Palfrey told Mike Hosking he's spoken to a couple of schools which expressed concern about financing the initiative.

"There are plenty of options to make the trial a success, including external catering. I don't think there should be any issues."

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