About Us

Aims and objectives of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)

The primary objective of OAC is to reduce the prevalence and impacts of obesity in New Zealand, and to improve the wellbeing and health of all New Zealanders by:

(a) Advocating for effective measures aimed to reduce the prevalence of obesity ensuring that efforts are:

  • effective for high-risk groups
  • appropriate and effective for Māori and Pacific people.

(b) Encouraging the development of obesity prevention and healthy lifestyles

(c) Influencing the development of healthy public policy on the prevention of obesity

(d) Any other means OAC believes is necessary or desirable to achieve its objectives.

Our vision

OAC’s vision is a population where most people are at a healthy weight and lead physically active lives.

Our mission statement

OAC will work to change the social, physical, regulatory and legislative environment in New Zealand to make it more conducive for people to lead physically active lives, maintain a healthy weight and enjoy good health.

What we do

OAC provides a credible voice on obesity, keeping obesity and OAC in the news. We try to broaden community understanding of the issues around obesity and the obesogenic environment via the news media. To do this we:

  • work to get obesity on the political agenda
  • promoting the need for healthy, supportive school environments to meet aims of curriculum
  • advocate for controls on the advertising of energy dense, nutrient poor food.
  • work with researchers to measure the advertising environment
  • work to help reduce community tolerance of high levels of advertising of energy dense, nutrient poor food directed at children.

Guiding principles

  • OAC will use the best available evidence to carry out its work and formulate its policies
  • The work of OAC will emphasise a population based public health policy approach
  • OAC supports the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi
  • OAC will build strategic alliances with key organisations and individuals including Maori and Pacific Island organisations which share common goals
  • OAC supports the principles of the Ottawa Charter and in its work will reflect the range of strategies advocated by the Charter's:
    • building healthy public policy
    • reorienting health services
    • creating supportive environments
    • strengthening community action
    • developing personal skills
  • OAC will support and strengthen member organisations on obesity prevention to undertake advocacy activities.

Membership of OAC

Joining OAC adds weight to the voice the Coalition has in advocating for a wide range of initiatives which will change the physical, social and legislative environment to encourage New Zealanders to lead physically active lives and maintain healthy body weights.

The strength of OAC is its numbers. The more members the stronger its voice and the more influence it has in prompting the development of healthy public policy.

Membership is open to all non-profit organisations (not individuals) that share common objectives with OAC.

You can join either as a: Voting or Participating member.

Voting member ($50 per annum): Your organisation can nominate and vote (one vote per organisation.

Participating member ($30 per annum) Your organisation has no nominating or voting powers, but can attend AGM’s with speaking rights.

How to join

Please complete the OAC membership application form and send it back to:
Obesity Action Coalition
PO Box 12-155
Wellington
director@obesityaction.org.nz