Hon Willow-Jean Prime visits the Healthy Families Far North tari
The Minister of Conservation, Minister for Youth, as well as Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Associate Minister of Health, Willow-Jean Prime, visited the Healthy Families Far North office in Kerikeri to learn more about Te Amo Pūtoro and how the learnings from this mahi can span across multiple portfolios. Healthy Families also took the opportunity to discuss what kai sovereignty as a food position for health looks like, as well as the whānau-led wellbeing mahi we are exploring in the lead up to Matariki/Puanga.
Community voice shapes new food and wellness hub in Whangaroa
Whangaroa Health Services (WHST) have opened the doors to a new food and wellness hub in Kāeo this week. Te Ara Pae Ora, The Pathway to Healthy Futures, aims to build a food secure and resilient Whangaroa, with hopes to improve hauora and oranga across the rohe. Community voice helped shape the re-furbished building, after Covid-19 raised many questions around food systems meeting the needs of small rural communities. The hub includes six offices, a meeting room, a classroom for workshops and a fully functional kitchen, which will compliment other services provided by WHST including the Pā Wellness Centre, the Community Teaching Garden and the Wellness Team.
Te Amo Pūtoro working group present to Bay of Islands Community Board
Members of the Te Amo Pūtoro working group have presented to the Bay of Islands Community Board, to share updates on the design phase of the new play space being built at the Kerikeri Sports Complex. The working group is in the first iteration of the draft concept plan which gives a clear idea of what this space might look and feel like. This space will be landscaped with plants, logs, and rocks, to encourage a strong sense of connection to te taiao. It will be built in a way that enriches the cultural, social and environmental wellbeing of our young people, empowering them to be kaitiaki of their spaces.
Whānau embrace Matariki celebrations to enhance community wellbeing
Members of the Kaitāia community are embracing Matariki to enhance wellbeing in their rohe. The project group, Te Hōnonga o Ngā Whetū, led by Healthy Families Far North have been working alongside whānau and He Korowai Trust to explore how Matariki and Mātauranga Māori systems can support better health. A series of events and activities are being co-designed leading up to the national holiday, with hopes to bring the entire community together for the celebration.
