How communities are creating sustainable health and physical activity change

Following on from participant insights, Sport Bay of Plenty is looking to increase our health and lifestyle impact in isolated communities by providing a process that is tailored for the specific needs and barriers of these communities.

In November 2022, Sport Bay of Plenty initiated a six-month Green Prescription Modification Trial in the Murupara region. The trial aimed to help Māori and Pacific whānau improve their hauora by establishing sustainable physical activity and nutrition habits, setting goals, identifying challenges and checking in regularly with a health professional.

It is often difficult to enact long-term change with physical activity programmes in these communities as they are often reliant on external providers.

Therefore, a key aspect of the trial was taking a locally led approach and helping the community determine what physical activity options they thought would work well for them.

In Murupara it was clearly demonstrated that a locally led approach supported the community to identify and establish physical activities that reflected their wants and needs.

“In this case, our facilitator worked with the community to support the establishment of a kaumātua strength and balance class and weekly walking group,” explains Sport Bay of Plenty GM of Strategic Partnerships, Larissa Cuff.

“The intention from the outset was to make these activities sustainable beyond the trial. This meant empowering participants to take the lead in the hikoi rōpu and for kaumātua to do the same for strength and balance classes.”

Modifying the standard Green Prescription model by leaning on a community-led approach that captured community need, and then delivering aligned activities in innovative ways to reduce participation barriers, had a significant impact. Not only did the locally-led trial help increase physical activity, understanding of health benefits and improve nutritional knowledge, but it also supported participants to develop a stronger connection to their community, whānau and tikanga Māori.

“While our current Green Prescription programme continues to have a positive influence on health outcomes we are always looking to adapt for the specific needs of communities where a more tailored approach would be more suited to creating a lasting impact,” says Larissa.

“Engaging locally ensures a community’s knowledge, understanding and strengths are valued, and activities can be designed alongside the same people who will be benefitting. This evolution in our programme delivery has helped to reduce barriers, provide a better connection to the programme for clients and, ultimately, better long-term health outcomes.”

Many clients in the Murupara trial group indicated this format could work well in other similar isolated communities – suggesting several other potentially game-changing modification options are available to Sport Bay of Plenty across our rohe.

“Sport Bay of Plenty is taking the lessons learned in this space on board to continue the growth and reach of our Green Prescription programme,” explains Larissa. “We are continuing our mahi with the Murupara community but also taking this approach into other isolated local communities in the Eastern and Western Bay of Plenty.

“Through listening and understanding the needs and barriers of these communities we can empower them to make the positive health and lifestyle changes that matter to their community in a way that works for their community.”