Health trial demonstrates value of locally-led approach to improving physical activity opportunities across Bay of Plenty

A Green Prescription trial in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town of Murupara has demonstrated the value of a community-led approach to reducing physical activity barriers and increasing participation.

Started in November 2022, the six-month trial aimed to support Māori and Pacific whānau with locally-led methods of improving their hauora by establishing sustainable physical activity and nutrition habits, setting goals, identifying challenges and checking in regularly with a community-based Green Prescription advisor.

Green Prescription is a national healthy lifestyle and physical activity initiative for adults. The traditional method of Green Prescription delivery relies upon clients being referred by a GP. Sport Bay of Plenty Green Prescription advisors then work with the client over six-months via face-to-face and phone consultations to establish sustainable physical activity and nutrition habits suitable for each person.

Larissa Cuff, GM Strategic Partnerships at Sport Bay of Plenty, says prior to the trial the Murupara community only had access to the Green Prescription programme delivered from Rotorua.

“This obviously meant there were some geographical limitations to sustainably supporting Murupara clients.

“When considering the locally-led trial we were mindful that the traditional way of delivering Green Prescription was unlikely to meet the needs of the Murupara community. Typically we help clients connect with local physical activity providers, but Murupara is a small community of 2000 and had relatively few options for active recreation compared to somewhere like Rotorua.”

Murupara also has a high Māori population and the Sport Bay of Plenty team were keen to support the community with a Te Ao Māori approach that was appreciative of hauora, a holistic view of health and wellbeing, and not solely focussed on physical wellbeing as a measure of success.

The six-month trial therefore sought to adapt the existing Green Prescription programme into a locally-led approach that empowered the community to determine sustainable physical activity options that would best meet their needs.

As a first step, Sport Bay of Plenty’s Green Prescription project coordinator connected with Te Ika Whenua Hauora, EastBay REAP and the Māori Women’s Welfare League to understand the barriers and needs of their community.

The Māori Women’s Welfare League had already determined local kaumatua were keen for more activities and opportunities to connect. A discussion with the Green Prescription coordinator soon led to the establishment of a weekly Kaumātua Ora – Oranga Kaha strength and balance classes. Forty-four people attended the classes across the trial period, with an average weekly attendance of 15. Alongside the strength and balance classes, a weekly hikoi rōpū community walking group was also established, and participants were able to connect with the Green Prescription coordinator for nutritional information and advice.

The Māori Women’s Welfare League and Te Ika Whenua Hauora were instrumental in promoting the Green Prescription trial. Over time, word of the programme spread and new opportunities began to pop up such as a community walking football competition between kauamatua and Sport Bay of Plenty kaimahi at a Hauora Day. At one stage a strength and balance class participant ran a salsa class for the community which attracted over 20 participants.

“All of the activities established during the trial very much leant on the skillset of the community,” Cuff says.

By the end of the trial in April 2023, 53 people had taken part in some aspect of the programme.

“Participation barriers were reduced by supporting and encouraging the programme to be run locally, consistently holding classes and the walking group at the same time and place, and enabling clients to self-refer instead of needing to seek a GP referral,” Cuff explains.

Clients described a number of benefits from taking part in the Green Prescription trial including improved strength and balance, better nutritional habits, reduced dependence on aids such as walkers and a connection to culture.

At the trial’s conclusion all partners recognised the value of the established activities and the need to ensure they were sustainable in the long term. As a result, Sport Bay of Plenty’s project lead for community strength and balance classes visited Murupara and spent time training local instructors for the weekly Kaumātua Ora – Oranga Kaha classes.

Underpinning the Green Prescription trial was a strategic focus for Sport Bay of Plenty on community development, locally-led practice and what it means to support sustainable physical activity opportunities for the diverse communities across our rohe.

“This trial provided some great lessons about how to operate in a locally-led way, including the importance of understanding each community, working with others in partnership and celebrating the collective knowledge, skills and strengths of communities like Murupara. We’re very thankful for the opportunity to work with such a great community and to learn and evolve our ways of working as a result.”