Maori community action

Māori are a priority population group within the HEHA Strategy based on health need.  The health disparities between Māori and Pakeha populations within Aotearoa are well documented. The National Māori Health Strategy - He Korowai Oranga 2001 states that Māori have the poorest health of any ethnic group in the country. Māori have poorer health outcomes across a wide range of health indicators, but despite this have lower rates of access to health services.

Maori HEHA Work Plan 2009/10 Criteria and application form for funding

It is recognised by Waikato DHB that Iwi/Māori must participate in the governance and the establishment of the strategic direction of the HEHA initiative. In alignment with this the Chairman of Iwi Māori Council is a signatory to the final Ministry Approved Plan (MAP), submitted from the Waikato DHB to the Ministry of Health in 2007. Following the sign off of the MAP, the Waikato DHB has developed a Maori HEHA workplan which is updated each year.

Maori are represented on the Waikato HEHA Steering Group and other associated committees. A Maori HEHA reference group comprising Maori community and health provider representatives oversees the development and implementation of the Maori HEHA workplan.  The group also manages the funding rounds.

Food safety in Maori cooking

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has published a food safety guide for Marae cooks.

Te Kai Manawa includes food safety tips for some traditional Maori food practices, and how to buy, store, cook and serve food safely.

The guide was developed by a team from NZFSA, public health units and Maori health providers  developed the guide in response to requests for more information from whanau, hapu and iwi following the release in 2004 of NZFSA's Hangi Guide.

The guide can be downloaded from the website at: www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/maori-pacific-other-cultures/, or Marae representatives can get a hard copy from NZFSA by calling 0800 693 721.

Funding available for Maori health projects

The Waikato DHB receives annual funding from the Ministry of Health to fund Maori communities to carry out community action projecs, activities and initiatives aimed at improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and reducing obesity.  Details regarding future funding rounds will be announced shortly.

A component of the funding received is tagged to Maori community and workforce development.  The Waikato DHB will use this funding to support the Maori community based workforce to undertake nutrition, physical activity and associated training to support their work.

Project profiles

Hauraki Healthy Kai

2010 courses

Details regarding training offered in 2010 will be posted here.

Useful Links

• Healthy Eating Healthy Action
  
  
• Te Hotu Manawa Māori
  
  
• Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development)
  

For further information please contact:
Jade Chase
Project Manager, Te Puna Oranga

Rangatahi Tu Rangatira

Rangatahi Tu Rangatira (R2R) is a programme that encourages rangatahi Maori participation in all sports and physical activities.

The programme aims to increase physical activity and understanding of healthy choices with rangatahi aged 13-24 while promoting pride in identifying as Maori,  incorporating tikanga Maori and taonga takaro.

For more information about Rangatahi Tu Rangatira visit www.r2r.org.nz.

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