October 07, 2014
Tikanga in schools merits health award
Hauraki health promoter Carrie Taipari is this year’s winner of the Public Health Association’s Tu Rangatira mo te Ora Award for her contribution to Maori hauora.
Receiving the tohu at the NZ Population Health Congress awards dinner in Auckland, she was praised for being a role model for the rangatahi and whanau.
In her role as a health promoter in sexual health, nutrition and physical activity, Ms Taipari has got primary and secondary schools in her rohe to add traditional Maori games to their curriculum.
Last year she developed and got NCEA accreditation for a year-long programme based on waka ama and tikanga that also gave students life skills and self-esteem.
Ms Taipari says embracing tikanga and te ao Maori has real value for rangatahi and whanau.
She says doing the work since she returned to live in her ukaipo had allowed her to learn about herself, develop connections with her iwi and community, and learn more about what it means to be Maori.
This year’s award for public health champion went to former Health Ministry principal medical officer, who has been a advocate of a smokefree New Zealand.
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