At Nourishing Hawke’s Bay, we recognise the vital importance of empowering our rangatahi (youth) with holistic health and wellbeing guidelines. While the Ministry of Health provides a foundation with New Zealand guidelines for children’s healthy eating and activity, we acknowledge significant gaps. Matauranga Māori isn’t embedded, sustainability is often overlooked, and messages fail to resonate deeply with our youth. There’s also a crucial need for wider wellbeing guidance, covering exercise and screen time.

We recently concluded our week-long Rangatahi Guidelines Health and Wellbeing Noho, an immersive experience that brought together Year 12 students, both Māori and non-Māori. During this Noho, rangatahi engaged in various activities and workshops, delving into nutrition, sustainability, physical activity, building confidence, self-expression, and cultural enrichment. The highlight was the creation of the Tihei Mauri Ora Rangatahi Healthy Eating and Wellbeing Guidelines, which consist of 20 powerful messages emphasizing holistic wellbeing.

The Noho was a transformative event, and we were inspired by the personal growth, meaningful connections, and memorable experiences our rangatahi gained. As we move forward, we are committed to refining these guidelines and developing a comprehensive dissemination plan to ensure they reach all rangatahi in the Hawke’s Bay region and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the support from A Better Start – National Science Challenges and Auckland University, along with everyone who contributed to the success of the Rangatahi Guidelines Health and Wellbeing Noho.

Join us in this mission to empower our rangatahi and foster positive change in their lives through resonant health and wellbeing guidance. Together, we create an environment where our rangatahi thrive, learn, and form lifelong connections.