Ora'anga Tūmanava

Looking back: Many people have made significant contributions along the journey from PSHLP towards the new horizons of Ora'anga Tūmanava. Funding from the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade laid the groundwork for an amazing 10-year collaboration to grow and flourish. Leaders from the Ministries of Education and Health have steered the project through waters both rough and calm to plant the seeds of lasting change in the Cook Islands, and will continue to nurture and sustain the vision of intergenerational health and wellbeing.

One person in particular has been integral to the project's success and longevity. As the University of Auckland steps back from its partnership role, it is time to recognise and celebrate the vision and dedication of Dr Jacquie Bay, who has lived and breathed PSHLP from its very beginnings. The Ora'anga Tūmanava team extends a massive thank you to Jacquie for all the long hours (and even longer flights) over the years, and acknowledges the significant legacy and continued impact her work will have for generations to come.

Meitaki ma'ata, Dr Jacquie Bay!

Looking back: With the transition from PSHLP to Ora'anga Tūmanava came a sparkly new website, bringing all our community and school learning resources together in one place. Meet the team, read about the project's history and access the latest PLD training materials here at www.oraanga-tumanava.org
Have you visited yet?

Looking back: In 2023, PSHLP celebrated the launch of "Our Tamariki", a resource developed to support healthy growth in the first 1000 days of life. Designed in consultation with community leaders, health professionals and parents, the booklet brings a strong Cook Islands flavour to early-life health guidelines.

Praise from House of Ariki and Koutu Nui leaders included “It's remarkable. We wanted this thing to be Cook Islands and everything in here is Cook Islands. The other thing that really came out really strong is that we are addressing the beginning of life. We are not only looking at children, we are not only looking at infants or babies, we are looking at the future of the Cook Islands. So it's very important.”

Read more about the "Our Tamariki" community design process at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/community-resources/our-tamariki/

Looking back: PSHLP provided opportunities for several students to achieve postgraduate qualifications through Auckland University's Liggins Institute while conducting research and analysis to support the aims of the project. Local Aitutaki teacher Drollet Joseph was one of them, completing his Masters degree while working to develop and pilot the PSHLP Physical Activity programme.
Congratulations to all PSHLP graduates!

Looking back: After the success of social studies resource "200 Years of Lifestyle Change on Rarotonga", the PSHLP team decided to get even MORE local. The result? "Past Present and Future Lifestyles" was developed to highlight the Southern Pa Enua and features case studies in sustainability and food security from Aitutaki, Mangaia and Mitiaro as well as new material from Rarotonga. Students love seeing people and places they know featured in their class resources, and it makes learning so much more relevant!
Check out the full story and a few of the Pa Enua case studies at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/school-learning-resources/past-present-and-future-lifestyles/
Thanks to New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for funding resource development.

Looking back: Araura College's involvement with PSHLP helped pave the way for the expansion of the programme into other Pa Enua schools. Senior students have been learning about diabetes in the community, while the younger classes have piloted nutrition and physical activity modules. Shown here are some of the students with the wearable activity trackers they used to collect their own sleep and movement data for analysis.
See more at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/ot-in-action/araura-college/

Looking back: "My Health Profile" was developed for students to learn more about and track their metabolic health markers. The familiar, flax covered booklet has recently had a makeover and has been re-released as "Tōku Ora'anga Kōpapa".
Teachers say: "Students... can use their data in decision-making around lifestyle choices. Learning gives them knowledge of the [related] science and social science. The testing and learning give the students a sense of ownership of their health and an understanding of the why."
Get the low-down on the new booklet at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/school-learning-resources/exploring-metabolic-health/toku-oraanga-kopapa/

Looking back: While COVID-19 was causing havoc around the world, the PSHLP team were working hard behind the scenes to develop and distribute resources for students and their families to support evidence-based conversations about the vaccine. As well as information for teachers and the wider community, the team made a video for kids to learn all about the vaccine from Kura the friendly hermit crab.
Check out the resources and meet Kura at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/community-resources/covid-19/

Looking back: PSHLP has been using Photovoice since 2015 as a way for students to explore their food and physical activity environments and support discussion about how our surroundings affect our health and nutrition. Using photography to document their discoveries made learning fun even for students who weren't as confident with science or writing.
Find out more about how Photovoice works at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/ot-in-action/photovoice-as-a-pedagogical-approach/

Looking back: Apii Nikao played a big role in bringing PSHLP learning to younger students. They piloted both the nutrition and physical activity programmes for Y7 & 8, using cameras and activity trackers to scientifically investigate their food environment and their own movement and sleep habits.
Read their thoughts about it at https://oraanga-tumanava.org/ot-in-action/apii-nikao/

Looking back: Te Maki Toto Vene learning resources were developed to support students in learning about diabetes and the importance of our social, nutritional, and physical environment for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.
During COVID-19 these learning modules were converted to interactive online resources, so students could keep learning even when they couldn't attend class.
Try some of the interactive activities yourself! Can you pack a healthy lunchbox for only $3? https://oraanga-tumanava.org/wp-content/uploads/te_maki_toto_vene/demo/