Referrals to quit services on de

The latest regional Smokefree Coalition hui, hosted by Ngā Uru Kahika (Waiariki rohe), brought together representatives from Eastern and Western Bays, Tairāwhiti, and Rotorua to discuss progress and challenges in tobacco control. A key concern emerging from the hui was the significant decline in referrals to quit smoking services, with coalition members identifying several contributing […]

Sound of smokefree future

Healthy Families Rotorua is leading a smoking and vaping cessation kaupapa, using the koauau (traditional Māori wind instrument) as a central tool. The koauau-based smoking and vaping cessation prototype combines mātauranga Māori, pūrakau, maramataka, and tikanga-based practices to create a holistic approach to improving respiratory health. Integrating hands-on learning with taonga pūoro, this innovative model […]

Rūru Parirau

From Insight to Action – Tikanga Māori illuminating the way forward According to the Rotorua Healthy Families community survey (2023) 64% of people surveyed said that alcohol consumption in urupā (burial sites) is common, while 67% expressed a desire to return urupā to being waipiro kore or alcohol-free places.  Some kaupapa stir up strong emotions […]

Alcohol in urupā

Healthy Families Rotorua is looking into changes in behaviour with alcohol and urupā, beginning with bringing the issue to light and then talking about it as whānau, hapū/iwi. Systems innovator, Teteira Ormsby, says drinking alcohol at the urupā is not being talked about and there is a concern it will become a normalised practice if […]

Waikawa rejuvenation

Rejuvenating physical and mental wellbeing, whakawhanaungatanga, and wānanga for whānau is at the fore of the Waikawa Restoration Project. Healthy Families Rotorua systems innovators, Stevee Wikiriwhi and Teteira Ormsby, have joined forces with GNS Science, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Parakore, Māori Land Court, and iwi to regenerate the geothermal waters of the Rotokawa baths […]

Waitawa Bush Project

Teteira Ormsby & Mariana Vercoe with Lynmore School deputy principal Lisa Hohepa (centre).