Building te reo capability
Healthy Families Rotorua’s newest addition, lead enabler/project coordinator Te Raipine McLeod (Te Arawa, Tūhoe) is quickly making an impact by creating and delivering Te Awhero – a uniquely designed te reo Māori programme to the team. The seeds of Te Awhero were sewn last year. As part of our performance appraisal process, we identified and […]
Matariki ignites ancient ways
Healthy Families Rotorua is part of a mātauranga Māori revitalisation kaupapa to celebrate Matariki. In 2022, the team helped Kai Rotorua plant and harvest kūmara at Te Puea Orchard for Matariki ceremonies. This year, the team participated in the revival of an ana kūmara to store our produce, including two ancient varieties. At this month’s […]
Local kai system champion
The man behind Rotorua’s kūmara revitalisation is Te Rangikaheke Bidois from Kai Rotorua. He says growing kai, particularly the kūmara, goes back to his whakapapa.
Taonga puoro helping COPD
Taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments) are proving to be effective tools in reducing respiratory issues for Māori men. Rotorua Smokefree Partnership Group reconvened for the year with a presentation to the group from health mentor and taonga puoro advocate, Sam Runga. Sam shared his story on how he could better manage his chronic obstructive pulmonary […]
New sleep survey
Healthy Families Rotorua is seeking Te Arawa perspectives on sleep through a new survey released today. The Te Arawa Sleep strategy is a kaupapa Māori approach to strengthening mental resilience in the community by improving sleep quality. The strategy will be iwi-led and inspired by Te Arawa mātauranga and lived voice through co-design and collaboration […]
Piki Maunga Crew trek Tongariro
Hoki atu ki tōu maunga kia purea ai e koe ki ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea.Return to your mountain to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea. While weather conditions influenced the path we took, our Piki Maunga crew’s spirits were lifted in the wairua-enhancing atmosphere of the Tongariro Crossing at the weekend. Piki Maunga is […]
Matariki kūmara planting
Healthy Families Rotorua is working with Kai Rotorua to plant a special maara Matariki for the city’s official umu kohukohu whetū next year. Lead systems innovator, Pirihira Whata, says the garden will be established at Te Puea Orchard with traditional kūmara varieties, such as hutihuti and taputini, and will be used as hautapu (offerings) for […]
Gold whetū for Matariki
Rotorua’s Matariki celebration at Motutara Point last month has received a gold star from Te Arawa kōeke. Healthy Families Rotorua lead systems innovator, Pirihira Whata, says the umu kohukohu whetū was hailed a success by kōeke at a recent follow-up hui with the event’s organising committee. She says overall, everyone was pleased with how the […]
PROFILE: Aneta Morgan
Aneta Morgan believes the resurgence of mātauranga Māori practices and age-old traditions can be the solution to many of the world’s problems. Aneta is the team lead of Rotorua Lakes Council’s Te Amorangi Unit and a member of Healthy Families Rotorua’s Senior Leadership Group (SLG). She was invited to join the SLG because of her […]
Puna hidden gems
Healthy Families Rotorua systems innovators Stevee Wikiriwhi and Teteira Ormsby discovered some gems during their research haerenga at Waitawa Puna last week. The pair mapped the puna from Owhatiura, through Lynmore, and towards Lake Rotorua as part of the Waitawa Restoration Project, which Stevee is leading. She will be fostering relationships with mana whenua, hapū, […]
