Celebrating a decade of partnership: Healthy Families South Auckland & AUT

With the Healthy Families South Auckland and AUT partnership reaching a decade milestone in 2026, Lead Systems Innovator Julio Bin and Senior Lecturer Lisa McEwan reflect on a successful 2025 programme, why this partnership is important and what opportunities lie ahead. 2025 highlights and the Good Food Journal project As Healthy Families South Auckland (HFSA) […]

Korero Mai closing the communication gaps in our homes 

Kōrero Mai began at the grassroots with whānau not as a product, but as a response to what parents and rangatahi in South Auckland told us they needed: safer, more honest ways to talk with each other, says Systems Innovator, Veranika Seiuli from Healthy Families South Auckland The Cause Collective (HFSA).    “Through wānanga and co-design, whānau shared the real barriers they face, role […]

Healthy Families South Auckland – 2025 Year in Review 

Reconnecting people, purpose and prevention  As 2025 draws to a close, Healthy Families South Auckland – The Cause Collective, reflects on a year defined by connection, to each other, to our whakapapa, and to the systems that shape our everyday wellbeing. Across every strand of our work, from Oranga Whakapapa to Mental Health & Wellbeing, Food Systems and Movement & Sport, […]

ImpactLab report highlights social value of Whenua to Whenua programme

A new report from ImpactLab provides comprehensive insights into the social impact of one of the initiatives created and implemented by the Food Hub Collective, an organisation supported by Healthy Families South Auckland. The GoodMeasure Foundations and Forecast Report focuses on the Food Hub Collective’s Whenua to Whenua experiential learning programme, a series of initiatives […]

Good healthy kai is not waste 

Tons of fish products are being saved from waste through Kai Ika, an initiative spearheaded by local South Auckland community kaitiaki, Papatūānuku Kokiri Marae and Legasea. These initiatives are examples of partnerships that show what sustainable systems change can look like.   Legasea , a nonprofit organisation dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of […]

Front row view to groundbreaking systems change in the heart of South Auckland 

Last month a new initiative that aims to bring great tasting, healthy and culturally rich kai directly to the communities, was launched in the heart of South Auckland in the form of “Mā ngā hua, Ka Ora”; a shared food trailer created by the people, for the people.  Led by local community driven champions, Papatūānuku […]

Local Government: The critical connection to a healthier and happier Auckland

In the upcoming local elections, Aucklanders will decide who will sit at the decision-making table of Auckland Council and across the city’s 21 local boards for the next three years. While national politics often gets the spotlight, it’s local government that shapes many of the day-to-day realities that affect community wellbeing. From the safety of […]

On a mission to get South Auckland to Move Well to Feel Well

We’re on a mission to get 10,000 South Aucklanders engaged in regular physical activity by June 30, 2026.    To do this, we’re calling on you, your whanau, your communities, your mahi, to join our movement and get fit, get active, and make it a normal and enjoyable part of your day.    Healthy Families South Auckland […]

Reconnecting to kai and whenua

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 problem when it comes to not only food security but the overall wellbeing of whānau in the area.

A look at the first three months of 2025 with Healthy Families South Auckland

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 Ministry for Pacific Peoples saw him play a key role in the Government’s response and apology for the Dawn Raids, demonstrating his deep connection to the South Auckland community.

South Auckland parents open up about their kids’ mental health

‘Māori and Pasifika parents are freeing themselves from intergenerational trauma to
protect their children’s mental health.’, a community talanoa held by Healthy Families
South Auckland (HFSA) uncovered during a community wananga centred on what
necessary family support structures are needed to nurture young peoples’ mental
health.

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 […]

Collective Impact for Healthy Families South Auckland

Healthy Families South Auckland recently opened their doors at The Cause Collective to stakeholders for an Open Home showcase. The event brought together key stakeholders, each playing a vital role in the systems that shape the health and wellbeing of our communities, to talanoa shared approaches to address Systems Change. “At Healthy Families South Auckland, […]

“Grow Your Own Garden” Project

Over the course of three months, HFSA Food Systems team delivered a hands-on learning experience to connect Pasifika residents with whenua (land) and integrate Māori and Pasifika indigenous knowledge systems into their gardening practices through the Kainga Ora, “Grow Your Own Garden” program. HFSA met with four community gardeners to share their experiences of being […]

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, […]

Village Games – A Mash Up of Culture and Physical Activity

The Village Games wrapped up its final event of 2024 at Otahuhu Intermediate and the Annual CM (Counties Manukau) Games at Bruce Pulman Park to teach rangatahi traditional Pacific games to encourage cultural connection and healthy active learning.  Systems Innovator for Movement and Sport in the HFSA programme, Narita Vaivai says it was an awesome […]

Healthy Families South Auckland Set to Host Stakeholders Open Home!

Healthy Families South Auckland is excited to announce our upcoming Stakeholders Open Home, scheduled for the 8th of November. This event will bring together key stakeholders, each playing a vital role in the systems that shape the health and wellbeing of our communities. Through this gathering, we aim to engage in meaningful korero, share insights, […]

Partnering up to improve local kai systems

Last month, Healthy Families South Auckland attended the Health Coalition Aotearoa forum in Wellington, beginning the start of a new collaboration focused on making policy shifts to improve access to healthy kai (food) in South Auckland. Health Coalition Aotearoa brings together over 45 organisations and stakeholders dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of New […]

Enriching Urban Vaa Spaces: Thriving relational Food Systems a partnership between Kāinga Ora & The Cause Collective (HFSA)

In May 2024, Kainga Ora (Mangere) and TCC Healthy Families South Auckland formed a transformative partnership aimed at fostering food sovereignty among whanau (families) living in Kāinga Ora apartments. This initiative, based in Mangere, focused on equipping residents with the tools, resources, and training necessary to cultivate their own gardens in an apartment setting.

Food Hub kaupapa continues in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu

The kaupapa of the Papatoetoe Food Hub, an initiative originally started by Healthy Families South Auckland, is set to continue in a new collaboration between the Food Hub Collective and I Am Māngere with the aim of creating a community food hub within the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu area.

The partnership was agreed to in September 2024 with a commitment to creating transformative change in the health and wellbeing of South Auckland communities. This also includes a shared vision to address social conditions, provide community education, and raise awareness of available services, all while upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Koroneihana

The enduring bond between Tangata Whenua and Tangata O Le Moana is a relationship steeped in shared history, cultural values, and mutual respect. This relationship is exemplified by the concept of Mana Motuhake, which represents the inherent authority and self-determination of Māori, and is a principle that has long resonated with Pacific communities who share similar values of sovereignty and collective identity.

Cultivating Connections: HFSA Food Systems’ Wānanga Kickoff in Māngere

HFSA Food Systems recently hit a significant milestone with the launch of our first Wānanga, kicking off a three-month activation initiative in partnership with Kāinga Ora and the residents of Mascot Road, Māngere. This project is all about empowering Pacific communities in Aotearoa to grow their own kai (food), using a holistic and indigenous approach to food systems.

Connecting for better community hauora

Healthy Families South Auckland and Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) recently held a hui to bolster their joint efforts in improving health and wellbeing initiatives across Auckland Council and its communities.

The hui aimed to build whanaungatanga between the two teams, now part of Auckland Council’s Community Impact Unit.

Karakia ready for Matariki

Healthy Families South Auckland is ready to unearth new whaikorero as part of its upcoming Te Tau Hou Māori (Matariki) celebrations. Over the past month, staff at The Cause Collective (a Healthy Families South Auckland site) have been undertaking ‘whaikorero lessons’ as part of the sharing of Matauranga Māori (an important enable of Māori health […]

South Auckland teachers learn about Village Games 

50 South Auckland teachers recently had the opportunity to learn about traditional Pasifika games to incorporate into their respective school curricular.  The Village Games movement, established by Healthy Families South Auckland (HFSA), was part of the agenda at the Healthy Active Learning Opportunity (HALO) Day event run by CLM Community Sport in May.  This event […]

Kāhui Māori focused on collective impact

The Healthy Families Kāhui Māori (collective) recently convened in Tāmaki Makaurau at Healthy Families South Auckland (The Cause Collective) in Wiri.  The two-day hui was aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts between Healthy Families NZ sites across Aotearoa particularly on Māori focused initiatives to strengthen health prevention across their respective communities. For example, the resurgence of […]

Kia Ora Te Whānau Hubs: Case Study 

The team involved in the Kia Ora Te Whānau Hubs initiative have released a case study called “Waters of Te Maahia Mural”.  The initiative was a co-design process co-led by Healthy Families South Auckland, Te Matariki Clendon Library/Te Paataka Koorero o Waimaahia, and Te Waka Kerewai (Māori Outcomes Unit), and supported by Hamish Lindop from […]

Healthy Families mahi highlighted in new report  

Healthy Families South Auckland’s work has been highlighted in the Public Health Advisory Committee’s (PHAC) recent report, Rebalancing our Food System.  This report, the first released by PHAC, underscores the necessity for the government to adopt a more proactive stance in ensuring that New Zealand’s food system benefits all citizens, asserting the right to access […]

We need change! The voices of young people amplified

Our Youth Mental Health initiative carried out “empathy interviews” to develop case narratives to understand the lived experience of Pacific and Māori youth living in South Auckland. Empathy interviews are typically one-on-one conversations that use open-ended questions to elicit stories about specific experiences that help uncover unacknowledged needs. “The interviews confirmed to us that the […]

Phillipa Meihana: The struggle is real – my hopes to change it

Healthy Families South Auckland Systems Innovator Phillipa Meihana is helping to drive systems change as part of her mahi for Food Systems, Oranga Whakapapa (Maori Systems Return) and Movement and Sport initiatives. We caught up with her to tell us about why she ‘loves’ her role and her hopes to create change in the places […]

Fa’anānā Efeso Collins – community champion 

When we consider community leadership in South Auckland, several names come to mind, representing mana, influence, and pride in where they live, learn, work and play. One name that undoubtedly stands out is the late Fa’anānā Efeso Collins. Known for his passionate advocacy, deep love for local people and relentless efforts to enhance the wellbeing […]

Opinion: From declarations to nutritional equity

UN Climate Change

By Julio Bin, Healthy Families South Auckland Image credit: UN Climate Change This opinion piece examines several declarations and documents that could possibly shift towards transformative change in the food system. These include: ● COP28 Declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and climate action ● COP28 Declaration on climate and health ● Food and […]

Nurturing Collaboration: Healthy Families South Auckland, Healthy Families Waitākere and Auckland Regional Public Health Service

Collaboration can be a powerful catalyst for change, especially when it involves organisations coming together for a common purpose. The partnership between Healthy Families South Auckland (HFSA), Healthy Families Waitakere (HFW) and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is a testament to the potential of collective efforts in building a healthier, more sustainable future. […]

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 […]