A new report is showcasing the transformative work of three Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs) - Sport Waitākere, Sport Canterbury and Active Southland - as leaders of the Healthy Families NZ movement in their communities.

Paving the Way for Healthier Futures brings together years of grassroots experience, innovation and collaboration, highlighting how these organisations are reshaping systems to support long-term health and wellbeing across Aotearoa New Zealand. From empowering local leadership to influencing policy and practice, the RSTs have played a pivotal role in creating healthier environments in the places we live, learn, work and play.

Healthy Families NZ is a national movement working to strengthen the conditions to protect and promote health and wellbeing across the course of a person’s life. It was established to rethink how we prevent chronic disease - not through individual behaviour change alone but by addressing the environments, systems and structures that shape lives.

The movement is embedded within local organisations, including iwi, councils and three Regional Sports Trusts: Active Southland (Healthy Families Invercargill), Sport Canterbury (Healthy Families Ōtautahi), and Sport Waitākere (Healthy Families Waitākere).

Read more: 

• Leading a cultural shift
• Embracing Matariki and Puanga

At the heart of Paving the Way for Healthier Futures are powerful stories of whānau and communities leading change. From kapa haka and waka ama to traditional Māori games like Kī-o-Rahi, the initiatives supported through Healthy Families NZ are enabling culturally grounded physical activity and strengthening community identity.

“This isn’t just a report - it’s a celebration of community-led innovation and the power of multi-sector partnerships in shaping healthier, more equitable futures," says Geni Ah Tong, Healthy Families Ōtautahi Manager. “It reflects the deep connection between sport and health, and the power of local leadership to drive meaningful change.”

The report highlights that preventing health loss early can help reduce chronic disease and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system.

By fostering cross-sector collaboration, including iwi, local leaders, agencies and the Government, Healthy Families NZ is making healthier choices more accessible and achievable for all.

The full report is available here.

Article added: Thursday, September 11, 2025