News

The largest-ever class is graduating from the Pacific Islands Heartbeat's Certificate in Pacific Nutrition this month.
 
A record 65 students will be graduating nationwide from the course which educates community leaders on ways to improve the health of prepare Pacific peoples.
 
The university-accredited course is run by Pacific Islands Heartbeat (PIHB) of the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.
 
One of the main targets of the course includes the high fat content in the Pacific diet and addresses ways to reduce saturated fats and control portion sizes. Pacific peoples are a high-risk population for heart attack, stroke and blood vessel diseases. Reducing obesity and lowering cholesterol levels have been proven to reduce the risk of these cardiovascular diseases.
 
PIHB registered Nutritionist, Maria Teresa Cassidy, said this is the most diverse class they have ever had.
 
"Over the years we have had mostly Tongans and Samoans enrolled, but this year we have Fijians, Maori, Pakeha, South Africans and Cook Islanders. They have come from as far away as Whangarei and Tokoroa to attend the Auckland course."
 
The course is a hands-on learning experience which provides scientifically-based, relevant and practical nutrition information. Participants learn how to modify the traditional Pacific diet to reduce saturated fat and control the portion sizes of less healthy ingredients while retaining all the goodness of these culturally rich foods. The healthy aspects of the Pacific diet are also accentuated with the use of vitamin-rich tropical fruits encouraged.
 
The Auckland class will graduate on 9 November and the Wellington class will graduate on 25 November.
 
For this term, AUT granted special permission to admit under-16-year-olds to take the university accredited course. The two students, from Mangere College and Aorere College are both 14-years-old student leaders, and wanted to learn more about healthy food and physical activity and pass it on to their peers.
 
The course is directed toward community leaders who can then take what they've learned and share it with other people in their community. Graduates from the Certificate in Pacific Nutrition work to educate others and improve the health of their community by raising the awareness of the importance of good nutrition. Graduates walk away with the confidence to disseminate accurate nutrition information to their communities.
 
This year church ministers, Rev. Elifasa Maafala Koko and William Hakaoro are two of those earning the certificate. They are the first ministers to ever go through the Health Promoting Churches Project. Together with the church committee, Rev Koko will be promoting healthy lifestyles to his church members and the wider community.
 
Background
 
The Pacific Islands Heartbeat's Certificate in Pacific Nutrition Course is funded through the Ministry of Health with certificates awarded by the Auckland University of Technology. The PIHB Programme is a community health promotion initiative of the Heart Foundation established in 1991, with the primary objective to make a difference to the health of Pacific peoples.
 
Media are invited to attend the graduation on 9 November at 10:00 am at Sorrento in the Park - Manukau Room in the One Tree Hill Domain.
 
Please register by Tuesday 8 November with:
 
Mafi Funaki-Tahifote
Pacific Islands Heartbeat
c/o The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand
P O Box 17160, Greenlane
9 Kalmia Street, Ellerslie
AUCKLAND 1130
Tel:  (09) 571-9191 ext 729
Email: mafit@nhf.co.nz
Web:   www.pacificheart.org.nz