Auckland-based Māori public health organisation Hāpai Te Hauora is calling on regional and national decision makers to support community initiatives that address the harmful effects of sugar addiction. Tikanga Advisor Rangi McLean says the challenge is part of reducing obesity.
Hāpai Te Hauora is throwing its support behind groups addressing the hold sugar is having on their people.
National Cultural Advisor Rangi McLean, “The real challenge is to ban fizzy drinks. The money is going to big companies and we say enough is enough. It should stop.”
Hāpai Te Hauora is part of today's FIZZ Toward a Sugary Drink Free Aotearoa symposium for doctors and health researchers advocating to end the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages.
“Now research has been released saying that sugary drinks are not good for families and tribes because they can become obese.”
Hāpai has been involved in implementing sugar-sweetened beverage-free policies since 2012, including large community events such as last year's Auckland ASB Polyfest.
“We're in a position where we can affect change in legislation, nationally and in regional councils. We're at a place where we can urge them to address these issues and stop our people from becoming obese through consuming sugary drinks.”
At the FIZZ symposium, New Zealand's first "no sugary drinks" logo has been produced to highlight the health damage from too much sugar in diets.