The inaugural Tutupu Awards celebrated twenty champions of Pacific health.

The inaugural Tutupu Awards acknowledge the efforts of church leaders from across the Canterbury community who have worked with local health organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of their congregations.

Healthy Families Christchurch manager, Jill Borland, says the Tutupu Project has challenged and inspired church leaders and champions to make changes so healthier choices are easier for their people.

“Two out of three Pacific people belong to a faith-based community, so it makes sense to work alongside churches to create healthier environments for their congregations,” Jill says.

“Changes in church practices and policies are supporting these church communities to be more active, more often. They are enabling healthier food and beverage options in the church and homes. Some churches are developing their own sustainable food production systems; creating healthier, long-term change in a way that is relevant for their Pacific community”, Jill says.

“In just ten months the Tutupu Project has reached over 800 congregation members, across five denominations and at least five ethnic communities. The benefits are already clear to see,” says Jill.

Jill Borland says each champion is focused on helping their community make healthier choices and live healthier lives.

“The champions are inspiring. It’s been rewarding seeing them grow and develop and take things to the next level. It will be interesting to see where they take things from here. The more they do, the healthier their communities will become.”

The Tutupu Project is a collaborative partnership involving Healthy Families Christchurch (Sport Canterbury), Pegasus Health (Charitable) Ltd., Community and Public Health, Etu Pasifika Trust and the Rural Canterbury PHO.

Health Champion within the Tutupu Project, Junior Tuberi (23) is determined to make a difference in his Pacific community. Part of the Fijian Seventh-Day-Adventist Church, Junior is one of more than 20 Health Champions celebrated this Friday night at the Tutupu Awards event at the Christchurch Bridge Club.

“We as Islanders have a habit of eating what we want, especially when it comes to big portions and I can see that diabetes is a big issue within Pacific communities”, says Junior.

“I stepped up with Tutupu not knowing where it would take me, but after this, I decided to study health at Ara. I can see the value of me being involved in health and how big of an issue it is for Pacific people. I can see this being my life path and I have Tutupu to thank for that”.

Pegasus Health Pacific Health Manager, Maria Pasene, says Junior’s story is just one of many stories of success to come out of the first phase of the Tutupu Project and the chance to celebrate all of them on Friday evening will be a rewarding experience.

Tutupu Project champions recognised at the Awards included:

§ Junior Tuberi’s experience as a health champion for the Fijian Seventh-Day-Adventist Church has seen him find his passion - he is now six weeks into a health science and physical activity course at Ara Institute of Canterbury in the hope of becoming a nurse (see case study below).

§ Teuila Saafi and Ailine Keifrom the Garden City Fellowship Tongan Seventh Day Adventist church have led their congregation to grow healthy, organic and fresh vegetables in their own homes.

§ Pastor Jesel Royokada of the Fijian Seventh Day Adventist church is leading a mission to get Pacific church communities more active. In 2017, he encouraged 65 new participants from three churches to come together to participate in the City2Surf. An inter-church Sunday morning Prayer Walk established in preparation for the City2Surf is now part of the church’s annual calendar.

§ Pastor Pere, Mother Pere and Minister Vaevae from Ashes to Jesus, Ashburton, have partnered with Canterbury Community Dental services to enable their church community to adopt better oral health practices. This has included reducing sugar sweetened beverages in the church and changing community oral health-related buying habits to grow stronger teeth in their children. The church has adopted healthier shared meals following fasting.

§ Osana Peleti from the Aranui Seventh Day Adventist church is leading her church and wider community to be more active, improve their physical fitness and grow community spirit. Following the six week Give-It-A-Go sessions facilitated during the Tutupu Project, Osana has influenced her church to support ongoing sessions; not only for their own Pacific congregation but also to connect the wider Aranui community.

§ Lesley Vehekite of the Free Church of Tonga is actively leading and inspiring others in her community to be more active, more often; sharing her own journey on social media resulting in a group who walk the Centaurus Steps every week. The Free Church of Tonga Health Champions now run a circuit fitness class each Saturday.