20 Dec Healthier Lives

Our Toi Tangata research team has been working alongside Hauora Māori over the last few months to prepare for implementing hauora based programmes in hāpori Māori in early 2024 as part of phase three of the National Science Challenge – Healthier Lives Implementation Network. Alongside the research team at Waikato University and Principal Investigator John Oetzel, Toi Tangata Researchers Renei Ngawati and Tori Te Puke will support three Hauora Māori to implement hauora programmes in their communities. 

The Healthier Lives Implementation Network is a web based support system that shares current research and programme support across Māori and Pasifika health organisations. Tori Te Puke is working with both Māori and Pasifika organisations while Renei Ngawati is working closely alongside Hauora Māori. Organisations that have expressed an interest in implementing a community based programme are able to choose the the priority area that they would like to focus on, choose an existing programme and tailor to their community needs. As part of the research, the programme is followed and evaluated by the Toi Tangata team. 

Focus areas for health in this network include chronic diseases, maternity and infant health, mental health and wellbeing and kaumatua health. A majority of the programmes include nutritional and physical activity as the main basis, including the App based nutrition and physical activity programme @ola@ora,  that Toi Tangata helped design, supporting whānau in South Auckland communities.  

We are excited to go into 2024 alongside the organisations that have expressed their interest to implement a programme in their communities. In the next Toi Tangata pānui, we will including a profile on each organisation and what they hope to achieve over the implementation phase. 

For more information on this research project, please visit the Healthier Lives Implementation Network website. Included here is the research information, programmes that have been included for implementation and the research team.