Hawke’s Bay Youth Create Eating, Wellbeing Guide

Seventeen rangatahi from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand developed healthy eating and wellbeing guidelines and launched a social media campaign to share them. The students participated in three noho marae, comparing existing guidelines from several countries—including Brazil, Chile, and the USA—to inform their own work. They broadened the scope beyond food to include sleep, physical activity, and online safety, resulting in ten guidelines for each area.

The group tested drafts with peers, gathering feedback to ensure relevance. Researchers from the University of Auckland, including Boyd Swinburn and David Tipene-Leach, supported the process with nutritional science. The resulting campaign reached over 1.48 million people and garnered roughly 19,000 interactions, costing NZ$125,000.

Current national guidelines, last updated in 2015, are also under review by the Ministry of Health. Swinburn notes that while guidelines aim to educate, they also shape policy around school lunches and advertising. Further research will explore how these co-designed guidelines impact long-term health behaviors.