On the TV show Campbell Live several years ago, a report was aired about how our rangatahi are consuming more than 3 times the daily maximum recommended amount of sugar intake through fizzy drinks and sports drinks available to them at and around school. That’s just counting the drinks, not the other sweets and processed carbohydrates that is common sight in lunch boxes these days. What is to be done about it? At Positive Directions Trust (PDT), one of our driving whanonga pono (principals) is to promote physical wellbeing, develop leadership qualities and learning to live according to humility and tikanga (values). We achieve this in a number of ways including through the delivery of physical activities, fitness, nutrition education and traditional Maori sports and games for rangatahi (youth) and the kaiako (teachers) who work with them. Depending on the focus at any given time, the Active Rangatahi Project, which is closely connected to our Körero Mai Rangatahi Hauora program is usually conducted using wananga and hui. We start each session with a karakia and then ask the rangatahi to contribute ideas and thoughts on program content and how to move forward. Everyone then gets a chance to mihi where appropriate. If there is more than one group (over 25 youth), we may pair them up and run through a fitness drills. The purpose is to burn energy so the PDT Kaiako can get an idea of which students are actively partaking in some form of physical activity. We are also able to get an idea on which students might be missing out on vital nutrients.

Our Kaiako also cover important nutritional information in a non-threatening and age appropriate fashion throughout the time they are involved. We might even look into the items they have in their lunch boxes and tactfully compare ideas and thoughts about good nutrition. During our time with the rangatahi, we introduce a number of traditional Maori games (Taonga Takaro) like kemo o ringaringa and ki o rahi. We also encourage the value of practice, competition and general all-round fitness. We always end the sessions with karakia and time for the rangatahi to give feedback and express their own views. Many rangatahi have shown interest in being a part of something bigger than themselves, and sport is a good way to do this. As many are not in a position to join sports clubs as fees limit their access, workshops and games that are funded offers them the perfect opportunity to participate in positive activity. We also have rangatahi who previously had no interest in being active suddenly find a source of activity they identify with, with that comes confidence, social connections, emotional intelligence and resilience. Sport creates a positive interactive environment that brings people together on common ground. It might even promote increased activity for the whole whanau, offers connection with the wider community and often helps form networks that previously didn’t exist. Connection with Runanga is also important for many as Turangawaewae is important in knowing one’s self, having a place to stand, and peace of mind. The rangatahi will also be given the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences, thoughts, suggestions for future workshops. Being active is never just about being fit. The impact for our young people’s mental health is equal to the physical benefits. Having whanau and community come together to endorse this is extremely important and offers a wider scope of support for our youth/tamariki/rangatahi.