Creating healthy change in the places we live, learn, work and play. 

Healthy Families in New Zealand represents a non-clinical, community led approach focused on strengthening local prevention systems by reshaping environments, relationships and decision-making across sectors.

About Healthy Families

Our Healthy Families team is proud to be one of 10 communities in the national Healthy Families New Zealand initiative.

We all want communities where people can be active, enjoy nourishing kai and wai, feel connected and live well. The places around us, the options available and the decisions made across organisations and sectors all influence our health and wellbeing.

Healthy Families brings communities, organisations and local leaders together to strengthen these environments, relationships and decisions. Each Healthy Families community shares the same national approach while building on the knowledge, strengths and aspirations of local people.

Learn more about Healthy Families New Zealand​​​​​​​

Our Areas of Focus​​​​​​​

Increasing physical activity

Supporting communities and organisations to create environments where more people can be active.

Improving access to kai and wai

Strengthening local relationships, resources and ways of working that improve access to nourishing kai and wai.

Improving mental health and wellbeing

Supporting environments, relationships and community-led approaches that strengthen connection, belonging, cultural identity and wellbeing.

Reducing smoking harm

Working across communities and organisations to support healthier, smokefree environments.

Reducing alcohol harm

Supporting community leadership and collective action to create safer, healthier environments and reduce the harm caused by alcoholic products.

Increasing the use of mātauranga Māori

Supporting mātauranga Māori, Māori leadership and kaupapa Māori approaches to shape decisions, environments and ways of working.

Healthy Families in Action

Healthy Families supports many initiatives across our communities. Here are a few we are spotlighting to show how the approach comes to life through local relationships, leadership and everyday action. 

SPOTLIGHT

Pasifika Mātua Gardens

Physical activity · Access to kai · Mental health and wellbeing

Supported by Healthy Families and local partners, the original Vaka Tautua gardening kaupapa has grown into a shared community space at Linwood Community Resource Centre. The garden gives Pacific mātua a welcoming place to grow fresh kai, stay active, share cultural knowledge and connect with whānau and younger generations.

Healthy Families also helped capture the garden’s impact and learning to support future garden spaces.

Supported by: Vaka Tautua, Linwood Community Resource Centre, Christchurch City Council, Pegasus Health, Linwood Avenue School, Te Aratai College, Menz Shed, community volunteers, Pasifika mātua and Healthy Families.

More about this initiative:

SPOTLIGHT

Pasifika Mātua Olympics

Physical activity · Mental health and wellbeing

Supported by Healthy Families and local partners, the Pasifika Mātua Olympics brings Pacific mātua together through movement, cultural celebration and connection. Healthy Families contributed through the community organising committee, supported relationships and access to resources, and prepared the event and feedback report to guide future events.

Supported by: Pasifika Mātua Olympics Committee and Event Manager, Christchurch City Council, NEED Trust, Pegasus Health, Turners and Growers, Masahi Products, Te Aratai College Volunteer Group and staff, community volunteers and Healthy Families.

More about this initiative:

Healthy Families Resources

Healthy Families Reports and Research

Latest Healthy Family Videos

Latest Healthy Family News

Meet the Team