Stories

At St Mary’s School in Carterton, tamariki are learning about climate change and turning that learning into action. They’re exploring more active, sustainable ways to travel to and from school. 

Student leaders across central Auckland primary schools are learning how to make physical activity more inclusive for their peers, building stronger connections between mainstream schools and specialist satellite units.

At James Cook School in Marton, pūrākau are being brought to life through movement-based learning, helping ākonga connect to place, identity and give greater purpose to the use of te reo Māori in the classroom.

Hula hoops, gutter boards, pallet gardens and sport are helping ākonga at Pāmapūria School in the Far North see the relevance of maths in everyday life – and boosting their outcomes.

A school surfing programme on the remote East Coast is connecting ākonga to te moana, developing their water safety skills and igniting a love for surfing amongst them and their whānau.

A year ago, Rhode Street School had limited PE sessions and broken or lost equipment, with low sports participation. Today, thanks to head of PE Arti Raju, the school is thriving with physical activity, new equipment and leadership opportunities.

Through kai, wai and physical activity, Kereu Park Campus has strengthened relationships with whānau to create a culture that reflects and nourishes its community – with staff leading the way and changing their behaviours too.

In Upper Mataura Upper, Southland, a local parent’s desire to foster community connection and activity has sparked a new fishing programme. Supported by Active Southland’s Healthy Active Learning team and Tū Manawa fund, Garston School and local fish and game clubs, these fishing meet-ups are bringing the rural community together in a new and valuable way.

Portland School tumuaki Rachel Bycroft says since prioritising healthy habits and encouraging staff to model these behaviours, the school has seen a positive impact on student engagement, and most importantly on hauora (wellbeing).

At Waipukurau School in Hawke’s Bay, ākonga are taking up boxing in a programme that is showing how quality sport experiences at school can boost attendance and engagement in learning.

Ākonga at Blomfield Special School Central Campus in Whangārei lead the way in a café initiative that nurtures and celebrates their potential. Ako Café, committed to teaching life skills, promoting physical activity, and fostering healthy eating, is bringing to life the values of Healthy Active Learning.

At Oaklynn Specialist School in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, movement is integrated across the day and used as a key tool to support cognitive development and emotional regulation. Now ākonga are also reaping more of its social benefits, particularly through sport, thanks to the support of the Healthy Active Learning initiative.

At Te Kura o Te Muriwai in Gisborne Tairāwhiti, ākonga (students) are igniting their passion for learning through connecting with te taiao (the environment). 

The kura is one of 34 across the motu supported by Mātaiaio, the kaupapa Māori initiative that runs parallel to the delivery of Healthy Active Learning through RSTs.

Working with the Healthy Active Learning team at Sport Bay of Plenty, Otonga Primary School has integrated movement across learning areas, prioritised fun in physical education, and provided ākonga with lots of opportunities to learn through play.

Kauri Flats Principal Matt Williams and deputy Ezra Feau are committed to prioritising the wellbeing of their ākonga. They have seen first-hand the difference it makes with attendance and engagement.

Onehunga Primary School has been changing the way it fosters playful opportunities for its tamariki, with the support of Sport Auckland’s Healthy Active Learning team and Regional Play Lead, Matthew Johnson.

Papakura Marae is undoubtedly a pillar of its community, offering 51 community services, including a GP clinic, weekly community dinners, and driving lessons. Now, through a growing collaboration with the Healthy Active Learning team at CLM Community Sport, the urban marae is using the draw of physical activity to connect with schools in the area in new ways.

Primary and intermediate schools across Taranaki are being supported through Healthy Active Learning to re-think their approach to traditional physical activity events and seeing more students engaged and enjoying themselves as a result.

The Sport Waitākere Healthy Active Learning team has been instrumental in supporting the development of a school environment that promotes quality play, sport, and physical activity for all tamariki at the West Auckland primary school.

Tamariki from nine Healthy Active Learning schools in and around Ashburton put on a day-long expo for other schools to take part in a huge range of fun activities and learning about out the importance of being active and eating healthy kai.

In the Bay of Plenty, two kaiako are benefiting from the tailored support of their local Healthy Active Learning team to deepen their practice and better support the wellbeing and learning of ākonga as a result.

Our Lady of the Assumption, a Year 1–8 Healthy Active Learning school in Ōtautahi Christchurch, is undertaking a whole school three-year transformation into a more inclusive, active, and play-friendly environment that is more suited to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse school roll.

Since it began in 2020, Healthy Active Learning has grown to be in over 40 per cent of schools across the motu. To celebrate reaching this milestone, Minister for Sport and Recreation Hon Grant Robertson joined tamariki at Randwick School in Lower Hutt.

Supported by the Hawkes Bay Health and Wellbeing Partnership Group, Napier's Richmond School held an Active Hub Whānau Day to bring together students, whānau and community health and physical activity providers for an afternoon of being active, sharing kai and connecting.

Girls at Waikowhai Intermediate are claiming their turf with the establishment of their own lunchtime walkers’ group. This is one result of the Healthy Active Learning school’s more inclusive approach to physical activity.

At Papakura’s Edmund Hilary School, school-wide physical activity initiatives put student-voice and wellbeing at the centre of decision making.

Students from St James Primary, a Healthy Active Learning School, have been taking play and sport equipment home and getting active after school with whānau and friends, as part of Sport Canterbury’s SportStart Home initiative.

Co-designed with the community, Manawakura is what Healthy Active Learning looks like for the people of Tairāwhiti. 

Healthy Active Learning and Oturu School’s holistic approach to learning have played a key role in bringing to life the school’s values.

The Healthy Active Learning team at Sport Waitākere has a strong focus on inclusiveness. The team hosts 'HALO-days' for teachers to enable them to create inclusive play environments for all students.

70 members of the physical activity workforce supporting teachers and schools in the delivery of Healthy Active Learning met for a three-day hui in Lower Hutt.