Healthy Eating, Healthy Action - HEHA
HEHA is the government’s integrated nutrition, physical activity and obesity strategy.
It has three key goals:
- improving nutrition
- increasing physical activity; and
- reducing obesity.
Our bodies are shaped by what we eat and what we do. Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity can lead to health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Delay in addressing these issues now will lead to further demand for health services in the future so a number of organisations are working together to achieve the 87 HEHA Implementation Plan actions, including:
- Ministry of Health
- District health boards
- Ministry of Education; and
- SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand).
Other government organisations, industry, and non-government organisations are also important players in helping HEHA to achieve its goals.
Many are working with their local district health board.
Ways you can take action
- Eat a variety of nutritious foods
- Eat less fatty, salty and sugary foods
- Eat more vegetables and fruit
- Fully breastfeed infants for at least six months
- Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible
- Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness
- Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life
- Promote and foster the development of environments that support healthy lifestyles.
At Waikato DHB
Waikato DHB’s focus for HEHA is on the Nutrition Fund, breastfeeding and development of community action projects for Maori and Pacific.
Janet Hanvey is the Waikato DHB project director for HEHA. Her role is
to work with different stakeholders in the Waikato region to develop
plans, provide support and co-ordinate programmes to implement the HEHA
objectives.
General enquiries about the Waikato HEHA project can be emailed to Janet: HanveyJ@waikatodhb.govt.nz.
Waikato DHB HEHA structure |
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Waikato HEHA steering group
The Waikato HEHA Steering Group advises on planning, prioritising, funding and monitoring HEHA
initiatives in the Waikato District. The group has a leadership role in
implementing HEHA initiatives.
Their role is to facilitate
and co-ordinate the work of stakeholder agencies, including the DHB,
PHOs, NGOs, education organisations, Sport Waikato, local government,
central government agencies, and communities in implementing the HEHA
District Plan.
The group also:
- provide guidance, advice and support to the Waikato HEHA project director
- ensures the Waikato District HEHA Plan meets the needs of the Waikato population and the requirements of the Ministry of Health
- approves and oversees the implementation of the Waikato District HEHA Plan.
HEHA stakeholders group
The Waikato District HEHA Stakeholder Group provides advice and support to the HEHA Steering Group.
The role of the stakeholder group is to support and provides advice on the delivery of a number of objectives including:
- guidance, advice and support to the HEHA Steering Group via the Waikato DHB HEHA project director
- looking
for opportunities to collaborate to deliver services to Waikato
communities which support achievement of the strategy outcomes
- promoting HEHA messages to their communities and existing networks.
News and other resources
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