Menu
Our research team will be conducting a comprehensive study to improve the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme in several categories. We aim to identify the most effective approaches to addressing food insecurity and promote sustainable food systems in the Hawke’s Bay region. Click on the links below to find out more about each category:
Modelling
Policy Pathways
Value for Investment
Impact Evaluation
Workshops
In 2020, Nourishing Hawke’s Bay completed a baseline regional survey of student health and wellbeing (survey and anthropometry) from 43 schools with year 5 and 9 tamariki and rangatahi. In addition, we surveyed Early Learning Services and primary and secondary school’s food environments using the School Food Environment Review and Support Tool to measure food environments within schools.
The Ministry of Health have developed NZ guidelines on healthy eating and activity for children. However, there are significant gaps in these guidelines. For example, matauranga Māori is not embedded, sustainability is not considered, the messages do not resonate with young people, there is virtually no government investment in promoting the messages, and wider wellbeing messages (e.g. exercise and screen times) are needed.
Mātauranga Māori has been recognised as a key component for Māori students to achieve success in schools. The impact however, of mātauranga Māori on food security or nutritional wellbeing in school children has not been explored. It is reasonable to suggest that mātauranga Māori may contribute to greater food security and nutritional wellbeing for children and furthermore, lead to wider learning and further success for tamariki.
He Kai Oranga is an equity response to nutrition and wellbeing for Māori with chronic health conditions in the Hawke’s Bay (HB) community. He kai oranga is the community nutritional wellbeing part of a wider open access clinic in HB funded by the HBDHB (now Te Whatu Ora) that best meets the needs of Māori in key HB locations.
We have designed a programme for people actively working in communities and public sector organisations, as service providers, consultants, advocates, and researchers. The course requires no prior knowledge, only an interest in working collaboratively, to combine knowledge from both the system sciences and mātauranga Māori. The 2023 Systems Thinking, Mātauranga Māori, System Change Training Course is fully booked. If you’re interested in joining a course in 2024 please get in touch to register your interest.
This ‘Food Road Map’ project will create the practical outcome of a ‘regional food system map and collective action plan’ that will include mātauranga Māori-based food sovereignty principles for enhanced food security for whānau Māori. We will map how the food system operating in the ‘fruit bowl of the nation’ can be re-oriented towards improved food security, health, social equity and sustainable environments.
