Paving way to a healthier future

Aorangi School is beaming with pride after becoming the first school in the Bay of Plenty to achieve a gold accreditation.

The Rotorua school won the accreditation from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service as part of Health Promoting Schools initiative.


Aorangi School receive their Health Promoting Schools gold accreditation award from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service.

HPS is an internationally recognised framework utilised in over 50 countries which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of school communities through a whole of school approach.

Toi Te Ora runs a unique HPS accreditation scheme across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes which helps participating schools develop and implement effective health and wellbeing strategies, and then recognises their efforts following an assessment against a set of criteria.

The accreditation scheme is implemented into three accreditation standards; bronze, silver and gold.

By the time a school attains gold, HPS is fully embedded into the school's culture, key documentation, strategic planning, monitoring and review systems.

'This is something we have been working very hard at for many years and we are absolutely thrilled to have achieved the Health Promoting Schools gold accreditation award,” says Aorangi School principal Debra Harrod.

'Since beginning in 2007 it's been a great experience. We first introduced a healthy food only lunch menu, and today health promotion is embedded in our school charter and in everything we do at Aorangi School.

'I especially want to thank the students who have contributed to the HPS team over the past eight years, and the staff who have facilitated the team and set continual goals for us to achieve,” Debra adds.

HPS leader Wendi Smith, a teacher at the school, has been extremely proactive in embedding HPS in to school life at Aorangi.

Wendi leads a functional HPS team of six motivated students who meet weekly.

Their activities range from planting and maintaining the school's vegetable gardens, harvesting and cooking the produce, preparing presentations for assemblies, and writing letters to teachers suggesting relevant health topics that can be discussed in their classroom.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack applauds Aorangi School on achieving HPS gold. 'Schools are an important part of our social fabric.

Involving the whole school community in promoting healthy lifestyles and creating supportive physical and social environments is key, he says.

'Schools are a vital component in our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our families and future generations.

'We're very proud of Aorangi School. They are an inspiration and set a great example for other schools”.

Aorangi were presented with their award at a ceremony held on Friday where special guest, Rotorua Lakes Councillor Karen Hunt, attended to congratulate the school on their achievement. For more information on Health Promoting Schools, visit www.healthpromotingschools.health.nz

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