Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua

Website: www.khw.org.nzWhat is Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua?Research shows that sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition and tobacco use are directly impacting on the health, social and economical well being of New Zealand’s population. New Zealanders are developing disabilities or dying prematurely from diet, physical activity and tobacco related diseases and conditions. The disproportionate burden of this reality falls to Maori.

Hawkes Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) has one of the highest health need in the country, with areas of high deprivation and low socio-economic status. Hawkes Bay (HB) has a high proportion of Maori and a small, but growing Pacific population. In addition, the population is spread over a large geographical area and four main centres, with a rural population and pockets of real isolation.

Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua is unique in that the programme addresses issues around Nutrition (Healthy Eating), Physical Activity (Healthy Action) and tobacco use at a population level across three DHB boundaries that make up the Ngati Kahungunu Iwi rohe.

Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua utilises a Kaupapa Maori Community Development approach that focuses on key settings where Whanau – live, learn, work and play. This approach recognises the need for Maori to develop approaches and initiatives which are appropriate for Maori. This involves working in and with Whanau and communities toward social change in order to prevent disease and improve health outcomes through partnership processes with Whanau and community stakeholders.

The goal is simple – Facilitate a Maori response to a predominantly Maori situation.

The objectives of Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua are:

• Increasing opportunities for Whanau to participate in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Smoke free initiatives within their own communities.

• Influencing environments so they are supportive of Whanau making healthy choices

• Whanau and communities taking ownership of their own health and wellbeing and developing solution oriented initiatives

• Building communities through whanaungatanga and kotahitanga

• Haputanga and cultural revitalisation

• Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua is about us doing it for us

What is the KHW Fund?

The fund established as part of the Kahungunu Hikoi Whenua programme aims to support Community groups, Marae and Education Settings to develop, implement and manage initiatives that focus on well being through improved nutrition, increased physical activity, increased rates of breastfeeding and reduced tobacco use. Accessible through the HBDHB & Nga Kairauhii, utilisation of the Fund will focus on these outcomes areas. The fund will also assist and support communities by increasing their capacity and capability to develop and implement effective and sustainable settings based healthy lifestyle initiatives.

Who can apply?

• Any Marae, education setting or community organisation within the HBDHB region (Hawkes Bay & Chatham Islands) is eligible to apply however priority will be given to those high risk high needs populations and low decile (1-3) education settings.

• We also advocate ‘cluster’ type applications from groups or organisations with similar dynamics e.g. Marae, schools, community groups/organisations and project types.

• Individuals or family groups are ineligible to apply to the fund – your organisation must be a legally registered entity or community mandated group. E.g. Charitable Trust, Incorporated Society, Community Trust, Whanau Trust mandated under Te Ture Whenua Act, Marae or Maori Committee

• Maori Hauora Providers throughout the region who are already engaged in the programme are ineligible to apply to this fund.

• Any Education Setting who has been previously funded under the HEHA Nutrition Fund cannot apply to this fund for an identical or similar project