WBOPPHO and Te Manu Toroa will host Living Well with Mate Huka, a free event about diabetes, on Thursday 19 November, at Te Ao Mārama Greerton Library & Community Hub, in Tauranga. The session marks Diabetes Action Month. Whānau can drop in between 9.30am and 11.30am to talk with a specialist nurse and a dietitian, check their risk of type 2 diabetes and take home free resources. There’s no need to book.
Diabetes Action Month is Diabetes New Zealand’s biggest awareness campaign, and this year it’s focused on ending stigma. More than 365,000 people in Aotearoa live with diabetes, and 80% have faced blame, shame or judgement because of it, which can stop them getting checked or seeking support early.
“Lots of people put off getting checked because they’re worried about what they’ll hear, or they feel judged. Nobody should feel that way about looking after their health. We want people to come along, ask anything and leave with practical ideas that work for them and their whānau,” says Alice Talmage, Diabetes and Nutrition Lead at WBOPPHO.
At the pop-up you can
- Kōrero with a diabetes specialist nurse and dietitian about mate huka (diabetes), nutrition, lifestyle support and how to live well
- Take a quick online quiz to check your risk of type 2 diabetes
- Take home free information and resources for you and your whānau
- Pick up free goodies and go in the draw to win a Diabetes New Zealand cookbook or spot prizes when you register your interest in a WBOPPHO self-management group
Event details
When: Thursday 19 November 2026, 9.30am to 11.30am
Where: Te Ao Mārama Greerton Library & Community Hub, 139 Greerton Road, Gate Pā, Tauranga
Cost: Free, no booking needed
Access: Wheelchair access, mobility parking, accessible seating and accessible bathrooms
Free diabetes and lifestyle support all year round
Can’t make it on the day, or want ongoing support? WBOPPHO runs free group sessions in person around the Western Bay and online by Zoom. You can refer yourself.
