Quarterly Update: April to June 2025

The first half of 2025 has been productive for Healthy Families South Auckland, with progress across key kaupapa in food systems, rangatahi wellbeing, and community-led prevention. Strengthening food systems through partnership: Healthy Auckland TogetherHFSA continues to play an active role in the Healthy Auckland Together (HAT) coalition. HAT is convened by the National Public Health […]
Matariki – he tohu o te ora: Traditional observations for improved hauora

By Rereahu Collier – Senior Strategist for Kaupapa Māori Matariki tāpuapua, Matariki kāhui whetu, Matariki kāhui hononga tangata. I pīata mai ko Pohutukawa, ko Tupu-ā-nuku, ko Tupu-ā-rangi, ko Waitī, ko Waitā, ko Waipuna-ā-rangi, ko Ururangi, ko Hiwa-i-te-rangi. Paiheretia ngā mate ki te kupenga o Taramainuku, ki korā wehe ai ki te rerenga wairua. Paiheretia ngā […]
Reconnecting to kai and whenua

When did food become a privilege for our people? The question strikes at the heart of a growing disconnection between good, nourishing kai and the people who need it most. This kaupapa is deeply personal for Ngāti Tamaoho Charitable Trust’s CEO Matekino Marshall who sees the lack of good food in South Auckland as a […]
A look at the first three months of 2025 with Healthy Families South Auckland

The first quarter of 2025 is nearly complete, and the Healthy Families South Auckland team at Auckland Council has been busy. Here’s what has been happening: Welcoming new team members Ray joins us as Lead Systems Innovator, bringing extensive experience in strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement, particularly in Pacific health. His recent work with the […]
A year in review – Healthy Families South Auckland (Auckland Council)

In 2024, Healthy Families South Auckland continued its journey of fostering community-led health and wellbeing initiatives, but now as part of Auckland Council’s Community Impact Unit. A new chapter In late 2023, as part of a restructure within Auckland Council, HFSA relocated from The Southern Initiative to the Community Impact Unit. The Community Impact Unit […]
Community and Council connect in Māngere

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, […]
Collaborative effort for new community initiative

Kia ora Te Whānau is a new initiative reimagining what a well-being community hub could look like in South Auckland if created in partnership between local government and whānau. A working group of staff from multiple Auckland Council teams and services has spent much of the year talking with whānau and getting an understanding of […]