Our Work
Research & Grants | Food Industry | Heart Health | Cardiac Rehabilitation | In the Community
Research & Grants
The Heart Foundation supports research for the benefit of all New Zealanders and has spent more than $25 million in this area since its establishment. We fund project grants and grants-in-aid, training fellowships to enable researchers to further their studies overseas, research fellowships and postgraduate scholarships which provide an opportunity for people to carry out research in New Zealand. We also fund eight summer students each year. The Foundation also supports a University Chair in Cardiovascular Studies based at the University of Otago's School of Medicine.Heart Foundation-funded research includes:
- The links between hormones and heart disease
- The causes and effects of high blood pressure
- The use of different drug therapies to treat newborn babies and infants after heart surgery
- The causes and treatment of rheumatic fever
- The role of hormone replacement
- Development of non-surgical techniques for repair of congenital heart defects in children
- Examining the mechanisms which lead to development of artherosclerosis in coronary arteries
- Determining the role of low-dose aspirin in preventing the development of blood clots
- Studies to reduce the renarrowing of arteries after balloon angioplasty.
Contact: Helen Stewart
Ph: (09) 571 9191 ext 709
Food Industry
Food and Nutrition Consultancy
Are you looking at launching a new product, modifying an existing one, capturing a niche market, or introducing healthier products into your menu?
The Heart Foundation offers:
- Assistance and advice with recipe development, analysis and approval
- Food service evaluation
- Nutritional information and advice on food products
- Menu assessment for conferences and functions
- Nutrition education and policy development
- Contract consultancies to meet clients' needs.
Heartbeat Catering
Heartbeat Catering offers a host of tasty food ideas and nutritional information to chefs and caterers wanting to increase the range of healthy food choices for their customers.
Contact: Andrea Bidois
Ph: (09) 571 9191 ext.718
Pick the Tick
Pick The Tick products are identified with a simple tick logo, showing that they meet the Heart Foundation's criteria relating to saturated fat, salt, sugar and fibre. It's food-labelling made easy for consumers. For producers, it provides a credible and highly-visible means to position their products in the marketplace.
Contact: Melanie Kozak Ph: (09) 571 9191 ext 719
Heart Health Information
We provide heart health information and resources for consumers and health professionals involved in preventing and treating heart disease.
Contact: Rachel Pearce
Ph: (09) 571 9191 ext 804
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Provide opportunities for people with heart problems to get together socially, to take part in physical activity tailored to their needs, and to hear speakers talk on a range of heart-related topics.
For more information about cardiac rehabilitation services, contact the Heart Foundation's head office or branch closest to you, the coronary care unit of your closest hospital or your doctor.
A directory of Heart Foundation programmes is available from the Foundation or at your public library.
- Ever wondered what the difference is between HDL and LDL cholesterol or how often you should have your blood pressure checked and why?
- Studies show that people who attend a cardiac rehabilitation programme can feel better and live longer. They can look forward to increased confidence and an improved quality of life.
- Do you know why eating too much salt can be bad for your heart, while drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is beneficial? These questions and a lot more are answered in our one-hour, heart-health sessions.
For more information about heart-health presentations, contact the Heart Foundation office/branch closest to you.
In the Community
Pacific Heartbeat is a health promotion initiative of the Heart Foundation, established in 1991 to promote heart health and to provide education and commuinty activities to Pacific people. It offers heart-health presentations in the Auckland region to Pacific community groups and promotes a smokefree message to youth and pregnant women. Resources include brochures, videos, and recipe books.
Pacific Heartbeat will come to your church, home, community organisation, workplace, school and tertiary institute.
Contact: Louisa Ryan
Ph: (09) 571 9191ext 733
For more information about our programmes, services and resources, phone or email the contact person listed or email us
