More than 125 individuals from 21 Tongan families in Christchurch signed up to this pilot community action initiative, which was run by the National Heart Foundation with Partnership Health funding.

This is an education-based programme, with those taking part attending 13 information sessions at the Tongan Community Association.  The sessions involved a shared meal and covered topics including health, nutrition and physical activity.

At the beginning of the programme, each individual’s health was assessed. Seven people were found to be at-risk of diabetes and seven who were at risk of cardivascular disease. These results enabled the facilitators to ensure those individuals received appropriate medical intervention.

Three months after the programme ended, a follow-up meeting was held to see what differences had been made. Successes included:

• An obese man who had lost 25 kilograms.
• Changes to shopping habits, with a number of mothers declaring their homes ‘junk-food free’.
• Awareness of healthy alternatives. One demonstration involved separating and cooling the fat from a heated can of corned beef which proved especially powerful with many of the families now using healthier alternatives to this popular food.
• Changes of attitude. Many reported they were more aware of portion size, with one father saying his family is learning “not everything needs to be eaten at once”.
• Greater interest in physical activity. An exercise class has now been set up at the Tongan Community Centre and is well attended.