About Health Promoting Schools

Health Promoting Schools is a holistic process that promotes the wellbeing of students, staff and community by removing barriers to learning, teaching and participation.

Originally developed by the World Health Organization, the Health Promoting Schools approach has been adopted in schools across the globe.

Health Promoting Schools and the New Zealand Health and Physical Education Curriculum view health as holistic – as hauora. They see the wellbeing of children and young people as a fundamental prerequisite for living and learning and recognise that to achieve this all aspects (taha) of health need to be addressed:

1. Taha Tinana (physical wellbeing).
2. Taha Whānau (social wellbeing).
3. Taha Hinegaro (mental and emotional wellbeing.)
4. Taha Wairua (spiritual wellbeing).

More information about Health Promoting Schools is available at www.hps.org.nz.

Health Promoting Schools resources can be downloaded in PDF format at the HealthEd website.

Fruit in Schools

Fruit in Schools is a programme aimed at decile 1 and decile 2 primary and intermediate schools/kura in New Zealand. It provides fresh fruit to each child in participating schools/kura along with support, advice and funding to implement the Health Promoting Schools/whole school approach.

The smokefree element of Fruit in Schools is a needs-based, comprehensive approach including school procedures, curriculum teaching and learning and community links. Participating schools/kura follow the Guide to a Smokefree/Auahi Kore School (2009) ( 660Kb). Smokefree messages are regularly communicated to staff, students and the wider community. Students are supported to develop skills and knowledge in relation to smokefree.

More information on Fruit in Schools is available at www.moh.govt.nz/fruitinschools.

Health Promoting Schools Association 2010

The National Association of Health Promoting Schools, Te Taihere Hauora, works to promote the concept of Health Promoting Schools and collaboration between schools, communities and health and education organisations, in order to create healthy communities and environments. The Association works at a national and international level to initiate ways for the exchange of information, support health promoting schools research and advocate for policy development.

Membership is open to all individuals, schools and health-related organisations. The National Executive Committee is made up of 50% Māori and 50% non-Māori representatives, reflecting the Association's mission to honour the partnership between Māori and the Crown. Contact your local representative for further information and membership forms.