Focus on maximum impact

The Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitikei Ruapehu journey over the past two-and-a-half years has been one of learning from experience and has, by necessity, been agile and adaptive.

Getting comfortable with change and adapting our approach based on feedback has been exciting and challenging.

Reflection and adaptation have been essential as we grapple with complexity, systems thinking and what that means in our local context.

Denise Servante, former strategy and community planning manager at Rangitikei District Council, and an outgoing member of the Healthy Families leadership group, has been part of this since the beginning - and she has seen the leadership adapt significantly since the first governance hui in 2014.

"Initially it was called the governance group, so I think those of us there in the beginning expected that we would provide more analysis and guidance for the direction of the programme.

"But it became clear that the role was intended to be one of influencing via our networks to bring about the systems change that is at the heart of the Healthy Families kaupapa.

"So leadership group more correctly describes what we do."

From the early development phase of stocktaking and systems mapping, through to the initial implementation phase of working with the willing and taking opportunities to create momentum, our implementation has continued to adapt.

This year has seen Healthy Families review and refresh the approach again as we head into our next consolidation phase and focuson maximum systems-change impact.

Healthy Families aims to create environments that make healthy change easier where our community lives, learns, works and plays - and a big part of that is celebrating local leadership.

From local policy to protect and enhance people's health to creating public spaces that are supportive of good health, local government has a mighty reach in terms of influencing the well-being of communities.

The local alcohol policy, the smokefree/vapefree policy and increasing access to water in sport and recreation facilities are just some examples of things Healthy Families has been involved in alongside our collaborative partners - including local councils - that demonstrate where this change is possible.

Denise has seen what has changed at Rangitikei District Council and within the Rangitikei community as a result of being involved in Healthy Families.

"There is a much greater awareness of sugary drinks and a more general commitment to water-only events across the community, which is a BIG win," she said.

"I think this starts a cascade of thinking about healthy foods generally and then about healthy lifestyles.

"At council, leading from the top is good - our chief executive is physically very active and has encouraged the staff team to, for example, enter two teams in the triathlon in Marton recently.

"A big win for Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitikei Ruapehu has been having the Rangitikei health promoter very visible in the local community and leading by example."

-If you are interested in ways to make healthy change in your life, check out the Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitikei Ruapehu website, https://www.healthyfamilieswrr.org.nz, and join the movement to create a culture where the healthy choice is the easy choice where we live, learn, work and play.