"Whaia te pae tawhiti kia mau, ko te pae tata whakamauakia tina, hui e tāiki e"
Pursue the distant horizons of your aspirations, hold fast to those you achieve.

Temporary pause for the Waka Toa Ora newsletter

There will be no Waka Toa Ora newsletter sent on Friday 28th June 2024 - due to the Matariki public holiday.

No newsletter will be sent out on Friday 5th July 2024 due to staff absence.

Any submitted items received up until noon on Wednesday 10th July will be included in the newsletter to be sent out on Friday 12th July 2024.


Go well this winter

Colder weather in winter means more people are likely to get sick. This increases the risk of illnesses being brought into your home, workplace or school.

Prepare for winter by:

  • Getting immunised.
  • Keeping up to date with COVID-19 additional doses when eligible. Remember some pharmacists can immunise.
  • Testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms, reporting the result and isolating.
  • Having a care plan ready for if you get sick including any support from whānau and friends.
  • Having the necessary medicines and cold and flu supplies at home.

You can prevent spreading or catching illnesses by:

  • Staying home and if possible, isolating if sick.
  • Wearing a mask in healthcare places and in enclosed spaces, like public transport.
  • Increasing airflow and ventilation.
  • Knowing when your child is well enough to go to school.
  • Washing and drying hands often and thoroughly.
  • Coughing or sneezing into your elbow.

Find out more about going well this winter, including where to get health care over the winter, looking after your mental health and illnesses to watch out for.

Winter wellness: Get your kete ready. Stock up on RATs, masks, prescription medicines and anything else you need for winter.

Welcome to Waka Toa Ora

Waka Toa Ora is a Canterbury DHB-led inter-sectoral collaborative partnership in the Canterbury region. The partnership is based on the WHO Healthy Cities model, and was previously known as Healthy Christchurch.

The key theme of initiative is that all sectors and groups have a role to play in creating a healthy Canterbury, whatever their specific focus (recreation, employment, youth, environmental enhancement, transport, housing or another aspect of health or wellbeing).

This inter-sectoral initiative fosters collaboration between organisations who have signed the Waka Toa Ora Charter.

Read the Waka Toa Ora Charter - updated July 2019.

The new name Waka Toa Ora communicates that we are all in a waka together. We are rowing in the same direction and navigating the many dimensions of wellbeing (physical, social, spiritual, and mental and emotional — hau ora, wai ora, mauri ora, toi ora). We are stronger navigating the regional landscape together.

There are currently over 200 charter signatories to the Waka Toa Ora Charter, including government agencies, businesses, voluntary sector groups, networks and residents’ associations. The organisations involved reflect a diverse focus and cover many aspects of health and wellbeing.

WTOLogo


News

News headlines from Waka Toa Ora and from Waka Toa Ora signatories.
View more news items.

  • Co-governance, human rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

    Te Kāhui Tika Tangata | Human Rights Commission has released a resource that explains the link between human rights, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and co-governance
  • From lab to lungs: Enhancing respiratory health with inhaled therapies

    Hear Professor Shyamal Das give his inaugural professorial lecture on innovative inhaler formulations for lung diseases and other viral and drug-resistant bacterial infections. Date: Tuesday 23rd July 2024.Time: 5.30 to 7pm
  • Library holds now free for adults

    Christchurch City Council Newsline: 10th July 2024 Library customers with adult membership can now access holds free of charge. The change took effect on Monday 1st July 2024, following acceptance of the change in the Long Term Plan
  • New Zealand Seniors Aged Care Futures Grant available

    Could you be the lucky recipient of the 2024 New Zealand Seniors Aged Care Futures Grant? This NZD$5,000 grant is awarded annually to help one student with their education goals related to: Aged Care; Aged Care Nursing; Dementia Care; Disabilities Care;
  • Come along to the Ōtautahi Preloved Clothing Market

    Refresh your wardrobe sustainably by browsing and buying someone else's at the Ōtautahi Preloved Clothing Market! Date: Saturday 27th July 2024.Time: 10am to 2pm.Location: Mairehau High School (440 Hills Road, Mairehau).Cost: $2 entry
  • Makeover complete on High Street

    Christchurch City Council Newsline: 9th July 2024 The transformation of the entire length of Christchurch’s iconic High Street is complete
  • Green Drinks: "The Rubbish Trip" film screening

    Join Green Drinks for an insightful evening featuring a screening of the short documentary "The Rubbish Tip" and a talk by Miriama Buchanan - Kaiārahi Project Leader at Para Kore. Date: Thursday 18th July 2024.Time: 5.30 to 7.30pm. Film starts at 6pm
  • Webinar: Help support people to live nicotine free

    Gain a better understanding of current knowledge and statistics around smoking and vaping in the Canterbury region at this online workshop from the Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC)
  • Popular fund opens to help community groups to better our environment

    Environment Canterbury media release: 8th July 2024 Our Waitaha Action to Impact Fund is now accepting applications for its fourth funding round, and we invite community groups to apply