Health and Wellness Update Sep22

HEALTH & WELLNESS
UPDATE
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
SPRING 2022
In this issue...
WELCOME
Rangitoto summit walk
pg 2
Tēnā Koutou Katoa,
Longer days, warmer weather and blooming flowers. What’s not to love about
spring? For me, this is one of my favourite times of year as the days get longer,
more time is spent outdoors and naturally, my motivation seems to pick up. If
you had a tough winter, spring could be the reset you’re looking for!
Thanks for your thoughts!
Spend less while eating
well
pg 3
pg 5
Rising stars ......................................pg 6
As you’ll read in this newsletter, our Health & Wellness team had a fresh start in
August, following survey responses we received from Green Prescription (GRx)
participants and our communities. We kicked off a series of new initiatives and
continue to gather feedback so we can do our best to meet the needs of whānau
we work alongside. Our GRx and Active Families programmes continue to evolve
and I’m excited for you to read this newsletter to discover what opportunities are
coming up in the months ahead.
Perhaps it’s due to the work we do, but I often find myself asking “What exactly
does it mean to be healthy?” and “How does optimal wellbeing vary from person
to person?” It’s great to see that healthcare has become holistic and that health
is more than just a sum of numbers, such as cholesterol, blood pressure and BMI.
I feel that health shouldn’t be the absence of disease but feelings of happiness,
confidence and “get-up-and-go”. The social aspect of wellbeing is also significant,
even if that means staying connected in a virtual way. So now, as we welcome
spring, the season of opportunities, I encourage you to take a moment to notice
the beauty and new life that surrounds us. Rather than feel pressure to “do more”,
feel gratitude to take action.
Our communities and the people that we connect with through our programmes
are a constant source of inspiration. Thank you for being part of GRx and sharing
your wellness journey with us.
Have a joyful, healthful start to the new Spring season!
Brooke
Health and Wellness Operations Manager
SPORT
A U C K L A N D
Green Prescription – We now have a mobile App!
We are excited to announce that Green Prescription, now has
a free mobile App! You can download the app by searching
“Green Prescription” in the Google Play or App Store. Our App
can link you to our Facebook page, website, online options,
community programmes, events, and much more!..
SPORT AUCKLAND | Level 4, Gate B, Alexandra Park Function Centre, Greenlane West, Epsom • PO Box 26599, Epsom, Auckland 1344​
Ph 09 623 7900 • info@sportauckland.co.nz • www.sportauckland.co.nz

SPORT
A U C K L A N D
HEALTH & WELLNESS UPDATE
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Rangitoto Summit Walk
Living in Tāmaki Makaurau, we are fortunate to be spoilt for choice when it comes to short walks and day hikes.
The islands of the Hauraki Gulf are no exception. Rangitoto Island is one of Auckland’s most iconic landmarks, and
whilst just a 25-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, many Aucklanders are yet to visit.
If this is you and you enjoy the outdoors, we can’t recommend it enough. With over 200 species of flora and fauna
as well as the largest Pohutukawa forest in the world, it’s a unique destination; the perfect day trip!
Thanks to the ongoing generosity of Fullers360, the Rangitoto summit walk has been an annual Green Prescription
event we’ve enjoyed since 2017, also in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC).
This year we were thrilled to be joined with 40 Green Prescription participants and some whānau to do the
summit walk on Friday 1st July. Planning a day’s outing in the middle of winter may have seemed a bit “touch and
go”, however after missing our 2021 hikoi due to the other unwelcomed “events”, we were determined to resume
what has become a highlight for us and those on our programme.
We were lucky with how the weather panned out on the day and would love to thank our supporters; Fullers360
and DOC, as well as everyone who joined us.
Reaching the tihi (summit), we’re rewarded with spectacular panoramic views and lunch with our
fellow walkers.
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SEPTEMBER SPRING 2022
Enhancing Green Prescription
THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Before the arrival of the Covid pandemic, our health and wellness team didn’t have an online presence. Come March
2020 when business-as-usual wasn’t an option, we became creative with how to deliver our service and haven’t
looked back.
Over the past 2-years, we have been offering a hybrid model of support which includes individual and group
sessions in-person and online as well as one-to-one phone support. Acknowledging that the needs and wants of
our participants continues to change, in June this year we surveyed those on our programme as well as others who
hadn’t participated in Green Prescription (GRx) to ask how we can enhance our service.
We were delighted to receive over 600 responses to our electronic survey. Thank you once again if you shared your
feedback! We used those responses for guidance to enhance our service and rolled out several changes to GRx at
the start of August.
Here are the key things you told us and how we’ve used that feedback to enhance GRx…
People want to feel connected and meet others on GRx… We now offer group introduction sessions when people
start their wellbeing journey with us! These are delivered morning, afternoon and evening (depending on location).
When people start GRx, they also have the opportunity to have a one-to-one consult & may also do this later into
the programme. We learnt that…
45% of people would like a mix phone, inperson
and online consults
32% of people preferred to have all their
consults over the phone
23% of people only want in-person
consults
RESPONDING TO THIS FEEDBACK, WE now OFFER:
• in-person consults 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday
• Phone and Zoom consults 8am-7pm most weekdays and Saturdays when requested
People have asked for more “touch-points” with our team and support to stay motivated. We’ve already seen
satisfaction from participants who receive our motivational text messages twice weekly.
With over 90% of respondents being interested in community events, we have lots planned over the coming months
(and stay connected with us via our website or Facebook to see what else is coming up!)
Time for a kickstart?.. if you’d like more information or to join a small group introduction session and/or would like to
receive motivational texts message to support you on your wellbeing journey, please contact your Healthy Lifestyle
Advisor.
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SPORT
A U C K L A N D
HEALTH & WELLNESS UPDATE
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
our schedule
We received interest in our wellbeing programme so have planned 6
sessions on the key topics people requested (see below). Hearing many
people work shifts or would prefer online options; we deliver 4 sessions on
each wellbeing topic each week (2 in the community, 2 live on Zoom).
WEEKLY WELLBEING TIMETABLE
Everyone who completed
our survey went into
the draw to win a
pair of Asics Shoes.
Congratulations to our
winner Wayne! Thanks to
our sponsor Asics.
mon
thu
wed
thU
Every MONDAY 10-11am: Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Road, Avondale. Week 1: Monday
12th September. Join us from 9.30am for gentle exercise.
Every THURSDAY 10-11am: Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre & Library, 17 Palmers Road, Manurewa.
Week 1: Thursday 15th September. Join us from 9am for gentle exercise.
Every Wednesday 10.30-11.15am: Online. Week 1: Wednesday 14th September. Join our Exercise class
from 10am
Every Thursday 6-6.45pm: Online. Week 1: Thursday 15th September. Join our Exercise class from 5.30pm.
The online wellbeing sessions will be available in our video platform so you can watch those in your own time.
There, you can also try out some of our home-based online workouts.
Our survey showed weekday mornings were very popular for exercise classes – please view our schedule on our
website. Our partners South Seas Healthcare are initiating “Spring Step” – weekend walking groups in Mangere,
Papatoetoe and Otara. Please contact Francella.tulilo@southseas.org.nz for details.
Keep an eye on our Sport Auckland website or GRx Facebook page for other opportunities to keep active.
To join us online or access our video library, please contact us for those passcodes.
FREE WELLBEING EVENTS FOR ALL
4

SPRING 2022
Spend Less while
Eating Well
GLOBALLY, THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES
TO RISE SO IF YOU’RE FINDING IT HARD
TO EAT WELL WHILE KEEPING WITHIN A
BUDGET, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. FINDING TIME
TO PREPARE HEALTHY FOOD AND STRETCH
THE DOLLAR FURTHER ARE CHALLENGES
FOR MANY OF US. HERE ARE OUR TOP TIPS
TO EAT WELL FOR LESS…
1. Plan your meals and snacks
Know what you have at home and shop keeping to a list.
Shopping hungry leads to temptation buys so shop after you’ve
eaten (including online). By planning, you can check you’re
eating a balanced diet.
2. Batch cook to save time, money and control portions
Pre-prepared food, whilst convenient, can cost much more. Take
time each week to prepare meals to enjoy throughout the week
(or freeze to store longer). Involve your whanau; be social and
have fun!
Learning basic cooking skills can assist to make your favourite
takeaways at home. Join our 2-hour Cook’n Kiwi sessions for
support with healthy cooking on a budget (see events schedule,
page 4). We also love the Heart Foundation Cheap Eats
Cookbook.
3. Seek out bargains
Look out for weekly specials, product markdowns (such as meat,
dairy and bakery items) and utilise buying in bulk. Freeze what
you won’t use. Compare product prices per 100g (often this is
labelled in store) and keep an eye out for supermarket ‘home’
brands as these often have no or very little difference in quality.
4. Shop around
You’ll get to know where cost-savings can be found such as
butchers, greengrocers and Asian supermarkets or reduce to
clear stores. Weekend markets are great for local produce which
is in season and often cheaper.
5. Buy canned or frozen
Fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious frozen or canned as
they are fresh and enables us to eat a variety, even when foods
are not in season. Think about eating a rainbow and check
canned fruit is in juice (not syrup) and vegetables are in water
or brine. Canned fish, beans and pulses are also a convenient,
low-cost option.
6. Store food for maximum freshness and use left-overs
Fruits and vegetables require different ways of storing to last
longer. Learn about that here Use containers or sealed bags
to store or freeze left-overs and avoid throwing food out. Love
Food Hate Waste have some great tips online or join one of our
90-minute workshops (see events schedule, page 4).
7. Enjoy alternative protein sources
Beans & legumes, eggs, canned fish and tofu are all healthy, lowcost
protein sources. Consider some meat free days each week
or bulk up your favourite meat dishes with canned beans (e.g.
mash into burger patties, add to mince, etc.)
8. Grow your own fruits and vegetables
Spring is the perfect time to prepare your garden. Even if you
don’t have a garden, there are many ways to grow produce such
as in containers or sprouting in jars. Local community gardens
offer support or join one of our Gardens4Health “Sprouts and
microgreens” sessions (see events schedule, page 4.)
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SPORT
A U C K L A N D
HEALTH & WELLNESS UPDATE
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
SPRING 2022
success story
IF YOU REALLY WANT SOMETHING,
YOU’LL FIND A WAY. OTHERWISE, YOU’LL
FIND AN EXCUSE.
When Mita joined Green Prescription (GRx) he describes his health as being “very overweight from depression. I over-ate, abused
alcohol every weekend and didn’t care about myself or my health. I was putting myself in a dark hole but was blinded and kept
eating and gaining more weight.”
Receiving a lot of aroha and support was crucial in keeping him going once he started at the gym with his brother. Whilst Mita knew
about exercising from playing a lot of sports during his schooling days, the biggest challenge for Mita was cutting out the takeaways
and energy drinks. The more he started to change habits, temptation decreased and he stopped giving in. Posting some of his
gym sessions on Tiktok, receiving positive comments and knowing he was motivating others at the same time was encouraging.
Despite being busy at work, we love Mita’s attitude of “no excuses!” He is focused on his goals “to return to my original weight of
100kgs, to be happy and live to see my sons kids one day… but I hope not too soon. I don’t want to be a Koro just yet, haha”.
Like us, we’re sure you’ll be inspired to read Mita’s story and the message he’s passed on… “Anyone struggling with weight and are
too shy to go workout in front of people and are feeling scared. Don’t be. If you work hard and push through all the challenges that
comes with being overweight the end results is something to be proud of, and also smile about. Achieving little goals like jogging
up a hill or doing a walk without stopping, really makes you awesome. Especially when you can take your kids to join in plus having
fun at the same time. I’m proud of myself for doing this big change in my life and my son is really proud of me as well and knowing
fills my heart. So go be the best version of you and let’s lose weight all together whanau!!”
We are proud of you too Mita! Breaking habits and taking the first step to living a healthier lifestyle isn’t easy. Thank you for sharing
your inspirational message and journey!
active families - RISING STARS
As an infant and young kid, Kalani battled with obesity. Kalani didn’t have the
confidence to engage in activities, sport or games at school. Kalani and his
whanau were referred to our Active Families programme to provide motivation
and support with physical activity and making healthy eating changes.
Kalani and his mum attended the weekly sessions at the Point England programme
alongside other families and slowly started to see and feel the changes in their
health because of their consistent efforts.
Kalani’s mum, Alofa said “The Active Families programme has really helped my
son build his confidence to run, play and have fun. Today my son is a slim and fit
13-Year-old. No weight issues anymore. He’s come a long way from being really
big.”
The Active Families programme includes weekly activity and healthy eating
sessions in a community setting, as well as the option for our team to come and
visit whanau at their homes.
“Thank you Active Families team.... You are awesome for the kids. My son is a fine
young man today thanks to a good sporting attitude. These skills and experiences
have extended to him being awarded ‘’The Rising Star’’ award for his team at the
Marist Rugby Club”
Keep up the inspiring mahi out there Kalani and Mum!
For any whanau who would like to join the programme, please self refer here and
we can get the ball rolling!
SPORT AUCKLAND | Level 4, Gate B, Alexandra Park Function Centre, Greenlane West, Epsom • PO Box 26599, Epsom, Auckland 1344​
Ph 09 623 7900 • info@sportauckland.co.nz • www.sportauckland.co.nz