Tamihere bungees and battles for health camps

Youth Affairs Minister John Tamihere will be launched in a horizontal bungee on the front lawn of Parliament at 1pm tomorrow (Tuesday, August 6) to support the launch of health stamps for health camps.

MPs from all parties are also invited to come along and knock Mr Tamihere off his pedestal – in a gladiator game, that is. The challenge of the game is to knock a padded-up Mr Tamihere off his perch using an inflatable stick.

There are seven health camps in New Zealand, located at Whangarei, Pakuranga, Rotorua, Gisborne, Otaki, Christchurch and Roxburgh. About 35 children from the Otaki camp will participate in the launch.

Children's Health Camps have been providing services to New Zealand children and their families since they were founded in 1919 and, since that time, approximately 250,000 children have been helped by health camps. More than 2000 children use health camp services every year.

Health camps today identify and support vulnerable children aged from five to 12 years, and who are at risk of poor physical and mental health, social exclusion and anti-social behaviour.

Children attending health camps are referred by social agencies and are typically some of the most disruptive and isolated children, with poor school attainment records, high levels of hyperactivity, emotional problems, peer relationship difficulties, under-resourced and vulnerable families, chronic health problems and poor social and living skills.

Mr Tamihere said the one-to-one interactions and early intervention approach taken by health camps could turn around the lives of troubled young children and divert them from criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Health stamps have traditionally been a fundraiser for health camps. The new range of stamps will cost an extra five cents above the cost or ordinary stamps, with the five cents going to health camps.

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