24 May 2014 Media Statement
Budget 2014: $40m for anti-obesity initiative
Encouraging families to live healthy, active lives is part of the Government’s approach to reducing obesity in New
Zealand.
“Budget 2014 invests $40 million over four years for the new Healthy Families NZ anti-obesity initiative, which is
expected to reach around 900,000 New Zealanders,” Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
“Healthy Families NZ is a complete reform of the way we address the underlying causes of poor health, including obesity,
smoking and excessive drinking. It’s based on one of the very few anti-obesity programmes that actually work.
“Too often resources have been spread thinly across the country. Healthy Families NZ will build a dedicated health
promotion workforce in a specific and discrete number of high-risk communities.
“From October 2014, Healthy Families NZ will roll out to 10 communities – East Cape, the Far North District,
Invercargill, Lower Hutt, Rotorua, Whanganui, Manukau, Manurewa-Papakura, Spreydon-Heathcote and Waitakere.
“In each community, a local provider will lead the programme. It will recruit a dedicated health promotion workforce who
will work with schools, early childhood education centres, workplaces and sport clubs to encourage and support people to
make healthy lifestyle choices,” Mr Ryall says.
Healthy Families NZ is based on the highly successful Healthy Together Victoria programme from Victoria, Australia. As a
result of the programme, children aged between four and 12 now, on average, weigh one kilogram less, have smaller
waistlines, and can run for longer than children in nearby towns.