Tumutaumatua and Tau Ora founder Leesah Murray says plans are in motion to take the life-saving initiative to the world.

“Tau Ora is about moving and shifting firstly our people and eventually all people towards a future of wellbeing with positive outcomes to ensure we craft a healthy legacy for future generations.”

Rhea Munro is one of many kaimahi who has made a healthy life transformation through Tau Ora.

In August 2013, Rhea was rushed to hospital where the doctors said “change your ways . . . or die”.

The Te Puna Mātauranga assistant accountant has lost 57 kilograms since then and is determined to weigh in at 77kg this year. She has another 20kg to go.
“Tau Ora gave me the courage to dream, dare, inspire,” she says.
“Once you’ve been to a place where your life could end shortly because of the way you’re living . . . it changes you.”

Tau Ora won the supreme award at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards last week.

It also took top honours for the Best Initiative to Improve Employee Wellness category from fellow finalists Canterbury District Health Board and Sanitarium Health.

Wellness Advisor Tuihana Ohia remembers it being a “surreal moment” when the wānanga was announced as supreme winners.
 
“I was overwhelmed and humbled. All the other finalists were amazing and truly deserving candidates.”

Tuihana encourages kaimahi supporting the Tau Ora initiative to take a bow.

“We are all winners and our prize is a better life for ourselves and whānau.”

Taiurungi Jim Mather says the national award was a great acknowledgement and he commended the excellent calibre of work, which has gone into the development of Tau Ora.

Tau Ora was launched in 2009 and has been hugely successful with 70 percent of wānanga kaimahi taking part in the initiative.

It is based on the idea of team members supporting each other to overcome challenges and achieve their personal wellbeing goals.

Tau Ora has also won the Waipa District Excellence in Workplace Wellness award, the Global Corporate Challenge Most Active Organisation award both in 2009 as well as placing first equal with Sanitarium in the 2013 NZ Workplace Wellness award.