PITOPITO KŌRERO

A Rotorua marae has banned fizzy drinks and plastic bottles - a move a health professional has described as ''trailblazing''.

The chairwoman of Ohinemutu's Tūnohopū Marae, Norma Sturley, said all 20 trustees were involved in the decision gradually introduced over winter to ban soft drinks and plastic bottles (not just single-use), both large and small.

"The amount of sugar in the fizzy drinks we were serving…

Kohanga Reo in Tauranga are going head to head to get as many women as possible to undergo breast and cervical screening for the chance to win prizes.

Klash of the Kohanga Reo will see 18 Maori early childhood education centres encouraging their wāhine mā to undergo life-saving screening.

The challenge is being run by the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation’s Support to Screening…

Raising money for cancer support isn't the only aim of a Pink Ribbon breakfast in Matapihi.

Some of the women attending the breakfast at Hungahungatoroa Marae in Matapihi this month will have a mammogram the day before, earning a free ticket to the breakfast and a special pamper pack.

Pink Ribbon Breakfast is Breast Cancer Foundation NZ's biggest fundraising campaign, held in May each year.

Waipu Hauora…

The build up to Te Matatini received a boost like no other as cyclists rode from Rotorua to Wellington celebrating the life and leagcy of Smear Your Mea founder Talei Roimata Morrison.

Talei passed away on June 16, 2018, aged 42, after a nine-month battle with cervical cancer.  The mother of three founded the Smear Your Mea campaign, encouraging Māori women to get health checks and smears. …

It is by Māori, for Māori.  It is driven by iwi and hapū, not by government or health organisations.  It is on the marae, not at the medical centre.  And, it is proving successful.

A group of Ngāti Tūwharetoa women have picked up the Smear Your Mea campaign and are offering cervical smears for wāhine Māori in a comfortable cultural environment - the marae.

The new approach is…