Healthy Families East Cape

15/06/2026

Kei runga noa atu ngā mahi✨

On Friday members of our rōpū Te Hā Kura presented to the Justice Committee on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Amendment Bill.

This was a first time experience presenting in this space and our members stepped into it with courage.

One member commented that “It was nerve racking at first. After we completed it, I was proud of us and grateful for the experience.”

We value the collective voice that went into this submission and how this contributes to the future of our hapori.

08/06/2026

Growing Māori Leaders in Public Health

Over the first half of this year, our Healthy Families East Cape Communications Lead took part in a Māori leadership programme. The programme has been running for more than 20 years and continues to grow a strong network of Māori leaders working throughout Aotearoa. This year our Comms Lead became part of this long standing legacy.

Read more here: https://www.healthyfamilieseastcape.com/our-stories/growing-mori-leaders-in-public-health

08/06/2026

Hear from our Rautaki Māori as he reflects on the realities of travelling through the Waioweka Gorge, and the impact road closures and adverse weather have on staying connected across our rohe.

He reminds us that “Kāore he mea i tua atu i te hui kanohi ki te kanohi, rae ki te rae.” There is nothing quite like meeting face to face.

These experiences highlight that we also need our own rautaki and mahere in place for times when access is disrupted.

02/06/2026

Each quarter, Healthy Families East Cape like to put the spotlight on a community champion, someone working within our Te Tairāwhiti community who is supporting, creating positive and transformational change towards the wellbeing of all people in our rohe.

This quarter, we are putting the spotlight on Pāpā Wharewera. Follow the link for more.

What's one of the most special or memorable moments in your mahi, and why does it stand out to you?   One of the most meaningful moments in my journey was returning home to Te Kaha. Following COVID, My partner and I reflected on our lives and chose to re

29/05/2026

Kai is a connection, it’s an identity, it’s wellbeing, and it is whakapapa. However, across many hapori, including Ōpōtiki, whānau continue to face growing challenges around accessing affordable, healthy and culturally meaningful kai. Rising food costs, limited transport, changing food environments, and increasing dependence on imported and processed foods are all contributing to a system that is becoming harder for many whānau to navigate.

Recognising this complexity, our team recently brought together kaupapa partners, community champions, local organisations and whānau to wānanga our local kai systems in Ōpōtiki.

Read more here: https://www.healthyfamilieseastcape.com/our-stories/ptiki-kai-systems-mapping

26/05/2026

Kua ea te rā tuatahi🫶

25/05/2026

Our Rautaki Māori from across Te Manawa Taki are gearing up to head to Te Tai Tokerau for the national Te Kāhui Māori hui, hosted by our Healthy Families Far North team in Waitangi.

Over three days, Rautaki Māori, Māori systems innovators and practitioners from across the motu will come together to strengthen Māori-led prevention systems, deepen collective practice, and co-design a shared way forward.

As Te Manawa Taki, our Rautaki Māori have already been working closely together across the region, building relationships, sharing whakaaro, and strengthening our collective approach to systems change mahi. This hui is an opportunity to bring those regional connections into a national space.

We’re looking forward to gathering kanohi ki te kanohi in Te Tai Tokerau.

21/05/2026

Ka rawe te kite i te whānau e whakakotahi mō te karakia i tēnei ata! Our team had the privilege of hosting our Friday morning karakia, and it was awesome to see you all on this cold morning ❄️

Hinetakurua is well and truly on its way kia haumaru, kia mahana te noho 🫶

Next week our whānau from Iti Noa Kōhanga Reo will be hosting 👏