Healthy Families South Auckland has hosted Auckland Council’s Community Impact Unit at the Cook Island Development Agency New Zealand (CIDANZ) in Māngere this month.
The Community Impact Unit is made up of eight teams, including Healthy Families South Auckland, that work with communities across Tāmaki Makaurau to support systems change, innovation, investments, Pasifika, library access, homelessness and community action on drugs and alcohol harm.
The day was an opportunity to showcase the shared kaupapa with CIDANZ who has worked with Healthy Families South Auckland over the past several years, particularly on The Good Food Road Map framework started in 2020.
“The work we do in council is important for communities but we can sometimes get lost in the day to day processes of that work,” says Healthy Families South Auckland manager Matt Appleyard. “The day was about allowing our teams to be with communities, in this case the Cook Islands community, and listen to their stories, successes and goals to thrive in the coming years.”
“It was also a chance to discuss a bit about the kaupapa we do in Healthy Families NZ but more importantly who we are working with in the community to improve health outcomes in the places we live, learn, work and play.”
Among the day’s guests was Express Yourself, an organisation dedicated to supporting Rangatahi in developing their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing through the joy of hip-hop and dance.
Jordan Ikitule, the founder of Express Yourself, facilitated a session to help the Community Impact Unit experience firsthand how his organisation is engaging with over 10,000 students across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Located just behind CIDANZ’s offices are the Old School Teaching Gardens, which demonstrate how communities come together to grow and share healthy kai.
Yvonne Thomas, who has been helping manage the gardens since 2009, highlighted the work being done with local residents and new migrant communities to preserve and pass on indigenous knowledge to future generations.
“The day was a fantastic way to celebrate a special part of Māngere,” says Head of Community Impact Unit, Dickie Humphries.
“Our vision is that all Aucklanders can live their best lives. And for that vision to be realised means reconnecting with those community champions and not only listening to how they do things, but learning how us as council can support them to go even further.”
