Waikato schools working together to tackle obesity

Friday, 17 July 2009, 10:33 am
Press Release: Waikato District Health Board

Media information
For immediate release

Date: 17 July 2009

South Waikato schools working together to tackle obesity

Tokoroa and Mangakino residents can expect to see some changes in their town over the next few months.

Thirteen local schools have joined forces to improve the health of their community through one simple, clear message - healthy eating, healthy action.

Funded by Waikato DHB through the Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) Nutrition Fund, the project will encourage the community to lead a healthier life with messages in the local newspaper, newsletters and on the radio.

The project kicks off on Tuesday 28 July and All Black Richard Kahui is returning to his hometown for the day to speak to students about the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise.

HEHA district coordinator, Sheryl Firth said the project has the potential to make real changes in South Waikato.

“Children are shaped by their environments and learn from the people around them.

“They are their role models and this project recognises that by involving the whole community we create a better platform for long-term and sustainable change,” Mrs Firth said.

She said a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes in both preparing for the launch and getting the project underway with input from all 13 schools and Sport Waikato’s Project Energize team.

The Healthy Eating Healthy Action project will teach children what a healthy choice is, change the food sold at the schools to be healthy and parents will be encouraged to provide healthy options at home and in their child’s lunchbox.

Other planned activities include practical nutrition and physical activity workshops, supermarket tours, cooking lessons, and gardening and exercise programs for the whole community.

Schools involved are:
▪ Tainui Full Primary School
▪ Tokoroa Central School
▪ Tokoroa East School
▪ Bishop Edward Gaines Catholic School
▪ David Henry School
▪ Tokoroa North School
▪ Forest View High School
▪ Tokoroa High School
▪ Amisfield Primary School
▪ Strathmore Primary School
▪ Mangakino Area School
▪ Tokoroa Intermediate School
▪ Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Hiringia

The Nutrition Fund is a national initiative that supports projects focussed on providing environments that support healthy eating and improve nutrition.

Since early 2008, Waikato DHB has granted more than $753,000 of funding to 58 projects across the district, involving 71 schools and 24 early childhood centres.

Information about some of these projects is on the Waikato DHB website at www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/HEHA.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Waikato District Health Board

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