Fizzy banned at waka ama
Waka Ama NZ has been commended for banning fizzy drinks at their annual national competition as thousands descended on Lake Karapiro for the start of the event on Monday.
Ha¯ pai Te Hauora general manager Janell Dymus-Kurei singled out the organiser of the annual event for its commitment to being fizz-free, as the Auckland health department joined the NZ Dental Association to urge the Government to introduce labelling regulations on sugary drinks.
‘‘This event is a great example of leadership in Ma¯ori health,’’ Dymus-Kurei said.
‘‘The organisers have shown a strong commitment to oranga tinana through the promotion of physical activity which is embedded in te ao Ma¯ ori.’’
A New Zealand study found last year sugary drinks sold in NZ supermarkets were among the most unhealthy in the world, with 52 per cent of drinks purchased here containing added sugar. That figure is lower across the ditch, with 42.2 per cent of drinks in Australia containing sugar, 42.8 per cent in Canada and only nine per cent in the UK.
Fizzy drinks and fruit juices are the most sugar-laden, and Dymus-Kurei said Tamariki Ma¯ori suffered disproportionately from the consequences of drinking sugary drinks.
‘‘It’s often unclear to parents which drinks are healthy, and which should be treat drinks only,’’ Dymus-Kurei said.
‘‘We believe stricter labelling regulations, in tandem with efforts like those of the waka ama championship organisers and increased availability of safe, clean water, will help convince wha¯ nau to choose wai Ma¯ ori.’’
Te Ururoa Flavell, chief executive of waka ama sponsor and educational institution Te Wa¯ nanga o Aotearoa, said such an initiative at a family event with participants as young as 10 was really important, and being fizz-free is an example Waka Ama NZ has set for six years now.
The waka ama championships are among many Ma¯ori events that are smoke-and alcohol-free, so it’s logical to have a fizz-free event as having sugary drinks at sports events is a contradiction in terms, he said.