Active Families MKR Whanau Challenge

Sport Hawke’s Bays Active Families have recently held a My Kitchen Rules (MKR) styled Whanau Challenge at Tamatea High School.

Earlier in the year the families involved in the Active Families programme had the opportunity to build their own vegetable gardens. With assistance from the coordinators, families have learnt about how to live a healthier lifestyle, through nutrition and physical activity. With the gardens flourishing, families had the opportunity to show off their newly acquired skills in the MKR Challenge.

As an extension to the partnership with the Hawke’s Bay United football team, players were on hand to support families as they worked together to create a healthy meal. This was a testament to the level of collaboration that the programme has been able to achieve throughout the year.

The partnership between the table topping Hawke’s Bay United team and Sport Hawke’s Bay is important to the success of the programme. Along with inspiring the families involved, it also shows the commitment of the football franchise and its players as they continue to support community programmes throughout the region.

Olivia Mador-Puna, Sport Hawke’s Bays Active Families Coordinator says “It’s a wonderful opportunity to have such talented athletes supporting the wider community in lifestyle change. Last season, players interacted and encouraged physical activity through weekly football coaching; this year there was a focus on healthy eating. It was a fun filled evening for everyone involved and a great way to see if these players could transfer their ‘hot shot’ skills from the field to the kitchen!”

Matthew Hastings from Hawke’s Bay United adds “Having the opportunity to be a part of the Active Families programme has been a fantastic opportunity. Our players have been given a great opportunity to become role models for all of the children and their families. It was a fantastic night and for our players to come in and enjoy some fun and exciting time with the fans in a community project is a huge benefit for both organisations, one that we hope to continue working with for many years to come.”

The judging panel of Mark Aspden (Sport Hawke’s Bay CEO), Dahl Gurdit-Singh (Sport Hawke’s Bay Health Team Leader) and Paula Walker (Hawke’s Bay United Chairman) decided upon, Lori, Rori, William and James Bennison, Emily Glynn and Valerie Sheriff and supporting player Godwin Kwane Addai of the “Radical Radishes” to be the winners on the evening after cooking ‘Chicken puttanesca and a garden salad’.

The programme is an extension of the wider health philosophy of the regional sports trust working towards having an active community by supporting and encouraging healthy choices. Whether it is achieved through one of the health programmes undertaken by Sport Hawke’s Bay or as a result of the team working alongside other sporting codes or health organisations, there is a focus on choices which will improve levels of physical activity and mindful eating.

There are a range of health programmes available through Sport Hawke’s Bay including Active Families. For more information visit the Sport Hawke’s Bay website (www.sporthb.net.nz) or talk to your local GP.

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