Going strong – third year of Stand Strong campaign
Published: 17 February 2025
Significant progress has been made in raising awareness of heart disease and the importance of understanding heart disease risk, through the Heart Foundation Stand Strong campaign.
Events such as Te Matatini, Waka Ama, Pasifika festivals, hauora (health) expos and smaller community events across the country provide an opportunity to reach more New Zealanders and help them to identify their personal risk factors.
"Choices you make every day can lower your risk of heart disease," says Heart Foundation Medical Director, Dr Gerry Devlin. "Even small changes can make a difference."
"One of the most important things you can do is know your blood pressure and take steps to reduce high blood pressure," he says.
Gerry explains that Māori, Pasifika and South Asian people are impacted by heart disease at an earlier age, on average around 10 years younger than their European counterparts. "So it’s really important to get a heart check early."
The Waka Ama Sprint Nationals in January 2025 provided the perfect setting for hundreds of paddlers and supporters to talk to the Heart Foundation’s Heart Health Promoters at the stand.
"There were queues of people wanting to learn more about their heart health risks" says Alina Jose, Heart Health Promoter – Waikato. "A few people also wanted to share how they’d made healthier lifestyle changes after a conversation with us last year and the positive impact that had."
At the Wellington Pasifika Festival, which attracted a crowd of over 15,000, people were keen to discuss their blood pressure with our team and chat about their heart disease risk factors.
"Many people didn't know what their blood pressure numbers actually represent," says Cath Lyders, Heart Health Promoter – Wellington. "Once we explained that, they understood the increased risk as those numbers creep higher."
In the weeks ahead the team will attend the Te Matatini kapa haka competition in New Plymouth along with numerous events in communities all over New Zealand.
"The team enjoys engaging people in these valuable heart health conversations and helping create positive change in people’s lives," Cath says.
This marks the third year of the Stand Strong campaign run by the Heart Foundation with support from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
To learn more about the Stand Strong campaign go to heartfoundation.org.nz/standstrong.