Healthy Active Learning

Improving the wellbeing of tamariki.  

Healthy Active Learning is a joint government initiative between Sport New Zealand and the Ministries of Health and Education that seeks to improve the wellbeing of children and young people, through healthy eating and drinking and quality physical activity. 

As a Regional Sports Trust we partner with Sport New Zealand and Te Whatu Ora Taranaki as part of our own strategy for young people. We are committed to supporting 31 Taranaki schools to achieve five outcomes:

  1. Education settings value and prioritise quality play, active recreation, sport, and health and physical education.

  2. Education settings support and promote quality food and drink environments.

  3. Education settings value mātauranga Māori and promote culturally distinctive approaches to play, active recreation, sport, kai and inu, and curriculum delivery.

  4. Teachers and kaiako implement active teaching and learning approaches to deliver quality health and physical education. 

  5. Education settings work effectively with whānau and their local community to enable inclusive and equitable access to play, active recreation, sport, and quality food and drink. 

While this is a national initiative, it is tailored to meet the strengths, needs and aspirations of each school community.  Success will look very different for each school.​​​​​​​

What are the three components of Health Active Learning?

Taranaki Healthy Active Learning Schools 

Manukorihi Intermediate

St Joseph's School Waitara 

Waitara Central School 

Fitzroy School 

Central School 

St Joseph's School New Plymouth 

St Joseph's School Pātea

Whenuakura School 

Kakaramea School ​​​​​​​

Huirangi School 

Inglewood Primary School 

Rahotu School 

Moturoa School 

Devon Intermediate

Mangorei School 

Coastal Taranaki School

West End School 

Midhirst School 

Woodleigh School ​​​​​​​

Westown School 

Avon School 

Kaponga Primary School 

Pembroke School

Manaia School 

Hāwera Primary School 

Turuturu School 

Te Pae Pae O Aotea 

Highlands Intermediate 

Vogeltown School 

Stratford Primary School 

Normanby School  ​​​​​​​

Amy Buick

Healthy Active Learning Lead

021 246 2692

amy.buick@sporttaranaki.org.nz

Amy has been involved in education as a primary school teacher and leader for the last 16 years in Canterbury and Taranaki. She is passionate about Health and PE and making a positive difference for our tamariki and kaiako. Amy is excited to be part of the Sport Taranaki team.






Jason Avery

Healthy Active Learning Advisor

027 273 3010

jason.avery@sporttaranaki.org.nz

Jason has been involved in the Taranaki education sector for the past 20 years, including roles as Associate Principal at Devon Intermediate and Deputy Principal at Mangorei School. He has also worked in the professional and community rugby environments in England and Taranaki. He is excited to be part of this kaupapa combining his passions for education and hauora.

Kayla Jones

Health Development Advisor

027 3843 277

kayla.jones@sporttaranaki.org.nz

Before her role with Healthy Active Learning Kayla worked with Whanau Pakari, supporting tamariki, rangatahi and their whanau with their healthy lifestyle behaviors. Kayla enjoys supporting young people to feel happy and healthy from a holistic, non-judgemental, and strength-based perspective.




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Mattie Thomas

Healthy Active Learning Advisor

027 711 3982

mattie.thomas@sporttaranaki.org.nz

Mattie has a background in education and coaching mainly as a classroom teacher at Highlands Intermediate and experience working with Taranaki Cricket Association over the past seven years. Through this time he has played and coached cricket professionally overseas with clubs in Scotland, Holland, and England. He is still playing for the Taranaki cricket side. Mattie is extremely excited to work alongside kura and kaiako within the Taranaki region to help grow an area he is passionate about. He is also grateful to have such a wonderful team to help implement the mahi and the shared outcomes of the role.  

Megan Hitchcock

Healthy Active Learning Advisor

Phone: 021 822 082

megan.hitchcock@sporttaranaki.org.nz


Prior to joining the Healthy Active Learning team, Megan taught for many years at Sacred Heart Girls’ College New Plymouth in the Intermediate and Secondary School areas of Health, Physical Education and Science. She has also taught in Wellington and London. Megan is excited to join the vibrant team at Sport Taranaki to help support kaiako in the region. She aims to help empower students to make informed decisions, fostering lifelong habits around hauora, contributing to healthy active communities together.  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Case Studies