
Whānau
The second stage of the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award programme for early learning services is Whānau. Learn how to achieve a Whānau award.

Whānau, represents development and growth. It recognises the strengthening healthy eating and physical activity environment plus further engagement with the wider community.
The Whānau award builds on the foundations set at Rito. Whānau helps you build and strengthen existing healthy eating and physical activity foundations at your early learning service.
How does it work?
When you register, you’ll be assigned a local Nutrition Advisor who will help you achieve your award.
You’ll also get access to the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award platform.
Each Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award level is made up of seven strands. The strands in Whānau build on the strands completed in Rito.
Submit evidence for each strand to show us the environment you have built for tamariki and their whānau. Our team will review your work and offer tips along the way.
Timeframes
You’ll have two years to complete the stage.
A year is a good timeframe to aim for to complete the stage. However, we know early learning services can get busy, so we allow two years to complete the award. We’ll be in touch with you along the journey to see how you’re doing and if you need support.
Achieving Whānau
When you complete and pass all strands in Whānau your service will have achieved the following.
A Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award
You'll receive an award valid for two years. After that you can try a different stage or continue to strengthen your practices by doing Whānau again. You'll also get a special badge to display on your website.
Healthy eating and physical activity policies
You’ll have healthy eating and physical activity policies in place at your service. Including guidelines around:
- education
- staff role modelling
- professional development
- healthy celebrations/fundraising.
Menus and/or lunchbox guidelines
You’ll have a 4-week healthy menu or healthy lunchbox guidelines for whānau.
Curriculum updates
Regular healthy eating education and daily, planned physical activity will be in your curriculum, which involves staff, whānau and captures an element of child’s voice.
Community engagement
You'll have regular support and engagement for whānau and the wider community around healthy eating and physical activity and about your Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award journey.
Resources
You'll have a variety of nutrition and physical activity resources for staff.
Professional development
You’ll have professional development plans and processes for new knowledge sharing.
Sign up
Ready to join the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award?