Third round of funding now open

Tena koe. Waitemata DHB is committed to improving the health and wellness of our Maori whanau, hapu, iwi, and matawaka. We are inviting people to applying for funding for projects that will enhance Maori health and wellbeing. All community projects that improve nutrition, increase physical activity and decrease obesity will be considered under our Healthy Eating Healthy Action – HEHA initiative. The ideas that you and your group think about should focus on what you can do to make your whanau better. You may wish to join with others in applying for funding.

Funding applications close on Tuesday, 6 April 2010, at 5pm.

All applications must be made on the Waitemata DHB application form. You can also view more information about making an application for funding. To support you in applying for funding, Waitemata DHB is inviting people to attend a workshop on Friday 26 March 2010, from 10am–12pm at Te Waitakere Marae, 55-75 Lincoln Road, at Waitakere Hospital. If you are interested in attending the workshop, you can download further details about it. 

For more information, please contact:
Michele Cavanagh
Project Manager
Email: michele.cavanagh@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Call: 021 947 240

Waitemata District Health Board
Level 1, 15 Shea Terrace
Private Bag 93 503
Takapuna 0740

Vending machines have traditionally sold snack foods that are high in energy, fat, sugar and salt – and low in important nutrients. Combine this with super-sized packages and it can be a real challenge to know what a ‘better’ choice might be. Initial feedback from consumers indicates that people want to choose from a range of snacks that are convenient, taste good, and include some healthier choices.

A group of nutrition experts in the Auckland region have put their heads together to develop the ‘Better Vending’ guideline to help you stock your vending machines with a better range of snacks. (Participants include dietitians from Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau DHBs, the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Auckland Regional Public Health Services, and the Clinical Trials Research Unit at Auckland University’s School of Population Health.)

‘Better Vending’ means that when you or your clients grab a quick and easy snack, there will be some better choices available. ‘Other choices’ – your less healthy favourites – will still be available but in more appropriate, smaller portions. This guideline offers your workplace a flexible way to offer a better range of vending snacks.

Download a copy of the ‘Better Vending for Health’ resource, or pick one up (for as long as stock last) from any of the Auckland Regional Public Health Services’ Resource Centres situated at:

• Ground Floor, Cornwall Complex, Claude Rd, Epsom
• Karaka House, 9 Huron St Takapuna
• Level 2, Westfield Tower, Westfield Shopping Centre, Manukau City.

The way we live our life impacts on our current and future health, as well as affecting the people around us. Poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and smoking are well known behavioural risk factors for the development of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and certain cancers. Therefore, encouraging healthy lifestyles is a key priority for Waitemata DHB. Our Healthy Lifestyles Framework includes the following action areas.

• Improving nutrition
• Increasing levels of physical activity
• Reducing the prevalence of people who are overweight and obese
• Tobacco control.

Within these action areas we take a population health approach with a focus on targeting high needs populations to reduce inequalities in health risk behaviours, and ultimately health status. 

Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) – Oranga Kai Oranga Pumau  

In 2004, the Ministry of Health developed a national HEHA Strategy to address the prevalence of overweight and obesity through improving nutrition and increasing physical activity. At Waitemata DHB, the HEHA strategy has been welcomed into our Healthy Lifestyles Framework.
 

Waitemata DHB Healthy Lifestyles/HEHA team:

Leanne Catchpole, Healthy Lifestyles Programme Manager 
Email leanne.catchpole@waitematadhb.govt.nz or call (09) 486 8920, Ext 3397.

Branko Cvjetan, HEHA Dietician
Email branko.cvjetan@waitematadhb.govt.nz or call (09) 486 8920, Ext 3118.

Mathew Bayliss, HEHA Physical Activities Specialist
Email mathew.bayliss@waitematadhb.govt.nz or call (09) 486 8920, Ext 2128.

If you would like more information about the national HEHA strategy, please visit the Ministry of Health website.

Helpful links

www.vegetables.co.nz

www.sparc.org.nz

www.feedingourfutures.org.nz