2007 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards Winners

A programme which tackles obesity in Auckland’s Mangere town centre has won the Supreme Award at the 2007 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards (HIA).

Since the Mangere Healthy Kai programme began in 2003, retailers have been selling more filled rolls, sandwiches, grilled fish and stir fry – at the expense of high fat food. The programme has been changing eating habits in Auckland’s Mangere town centre to help combat obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The Healthy Kai programme, from Auckland Regional Public Health Service, is supported by Auckland District Health Board, Mangere Community Health Trust, National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Bader Drive Healthcare, Te Kupenga O Hoturoa, Procare Network Manukau, Manukau City Council and Otara Health Incorporated.

Judges described the programme as “an innovative and collaborative approach within the broader community”.

The HIA recognise individuals and organisations that have developed new and innovative approaches to delivering better health services. They are an opportunity to showcase some of the cutting-edge developments and improvements within the health service.

This year there are category winners from Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Waikato, Canterbury and South Canterbury.

The Supreme Award winner receives $13,000 while category winners receive $4,000. The People’s Choice winner also receives $4000.

The 22 finalists, chosen from 190 entries, presented their ideas during an expo at the Wellington Town Hall before the evening awards ceremony.

The HIA are a joint initiative by the Ministry of Health and ACC and are administered by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation. An independent team of evaluators and a panel of judges assessed the applications and made site visits to scrutinise entries.

This year’s judges were Mary-Anne Boyd, who has been associated with innovation in health services for the past three decades; independent health consultant Karl Puloto-Endemann; and award winning journalist Martin Johnston.




Winners

Supreme Award Winner: Auckland Regional Public Health Service: Mangere Healthy Kai – making the healthy choice the easy choice

Excellence in Primary Health Care: South Link Health: Mental Health Brief Intervention Service (MHBIS) in Primary Care

Excellence in Quality Improvement: Waitemata DHB: Colorectal Cancer Service Improvement Project

Excellence in Prevention: Auckland Regional Public Health Service: Mangere Healthy Kai – making the healthy choice the easy choice

Excellence in Rehabilitation: Hawke’s Bay DHB: Improving Stable Housing options for people with mental illness (Friendly Landlord Housing Initiative)

Excellence in Treatment: ElderCare New Zealand: LIFE: A personal wellness programme for older people

Innovation: ARANZ Medical Limited: ARANZ Medical Silhouette Mobile, Advancing Wound Assessment into the Digital Era

Process Improvement: Waikato DHB: Nurse Led Preadmission - Gynaecology

People’s Choice: To be awarded on the night.