Online hub launched to celebrate hapu health

(From left, Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Communications Advisor, Liz Thomas, Healthy Families Rotorua Community Health Advisor, Julia Coates, Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Business Manager, Janet Hanvey, Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Hapū Hauora Kaupapa Lead, Brad Bluett, Healthy Families Rotorua Manager, Mapihi Raharuhi, and Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Health Improvement Manager, Sharon Kennedy-Muru. Photo/Supplied

A unique online Maori health hub has been launched in Whakatane.

Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service, along with many collaborative partners, launched Hapu Hauora at Te Manuka Tutahi Marae last Friday.

The hub has been developed with hapu and whanau to specifically improve Maori health and celebrate whanau wellbeing.

Hapu Hauora will provide hapu with knowledge around three health areas including oranga kai (healthy food), auahi kore (smokefree), and te karonga I ngā momo mate (avoiding infections).

The online hub will provide resources, tips, interactive tools, and templates whanau can use to improve their health - using the marae to set the example and lead the way for tamariki.

Hapu Hauora Kaupapa lead, Brad Bluett, said Hapu Hauora had been developed to help whanau and hapu improve their knowledge and skills around key health areas.

"We hope that by providing hapu with a resource which supports them to make the healthy choice the easy choice, it will lead to improved health and wellbeing."

Mr Bluett said an integral component of the initiative had been the inclusion of hapu throughout its development.

"Group interviews were held with a number of local Eastern Bay of Plenty hapu to discuss key health priorities. Additionally, a reference group was established to provide overall guidance and advice to the initiative to ensure this resource would resonate with Maori."

The reference group consists of active hapu members who also have health sector experience, a number of them employed within local Maori health providers.

Hapu Hauora will be a living resource and will be continuously updated with relevant Maori health information.

"Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the resource is the ability for whanau and hapu to contribute success stories of health in action at their marae, allowing all whanau to share knowledge and learn from each other," said Mr Bluett.

In the near future there will be two additional health areas developed to support whanau to whakakore waipiro (reduce alcohol intake) and increase korikori tīnana (physical activity).

- For more information go to: www.hapuhauora.health.nz
- To subscribe to the Hapu Hauora Kumara Vine panui email: hapu.hauora@bopdhb.govt.nz