Green Prescription for Health Professionals

What is Green Prescription/ Rongoā Kākāriki

A Green Prescription is a Health Professional's written advice to a patient to be physically active, as part of the patient's health management.

Green Prescription provides support and motivation to increase physical activity levels. Sport Taranaki’s Green Prescription team supports being active as an opportunity to enhance physical, mental and social wellbeing. This free service provides the guidance to get started - and get active, whether people are new or returning to physical activity.

Referral Criteria

To be eligible for a Green Prescription, your client must be:

  • 18 or over

  • Inactive (engaged in less than 30 minutes of moderate activity five or more days of the week)

  • Motivated to increase their level of activity

  • Medically stable

  • Able to engage in low to moderate physical activity

  • Have discussed and consented to receive support and share their information with Sport Taranaki, Taranaki District Health Board and the Ministry of Health.

Referral process

If from a medical centre with Best Practice

Please use e-referral process

If from a Medical Centre without Best Practice

Please email the referral through to Green Prescription email address: greenprescription@sporttaranaki.org.nz

Please include:

  • Full name 

  • Date of Birth

  • Full contact details – address, phone(s), email (if available) 

  • Ethnicity 

  • Brief medical history- noting in particular any past or present medical conditions – Diabetic status, CVD, Mental health, Falls risk 


Other Health Professionals

  • Use online referral form

  •  If unable to access this please use Green Prescription pads. Please contact Sport Taranaki 067590930 ext 714 if you require these

What happens with your referral?

  1. When your referral is received it will be allocated to a Green Prescription Advisor.

  2. Introductory information will be sent out to the client via text, email or letter. We aim to contact your patient within 10 days of referral.

  3. Consultation and support will be offered with phone calls, emails, text or face to face meetings over the next 3-4 month period.

What happens when a Green Prescription ends?

  1. Renewals of prescriptions for ongoing support are available.

  2. A summary letter will be sent to the you when your patient is discharged.