Why whanau want to be the biggest losers

Sisters Florence (left), Geranium and Elizabeth Hoeta. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Two years ago Elizabeth Hoeta was so embarrassed by her size she stayed in her van during an important hui at Tahuna Marae.

That was when the 43-year-old Waiuku woman weighed close on 200kg. With a history of heart disease and needing an operation, the future wasn't looking great.

"Every marae do, I used to sit in the van and drive as close as I could to the cemetery or to the kitchen. I'd have an uncle going 'don't forget Lizzie's plate', then I'd have food coming in all directions, and I'd be going 'no, no'.

"It started because I was embarrassed, then I just couldn't move more than two steps without being out of breath."

In August Ms Hoeta started the 12-week Whanau Weight Loss Challenge, a competition run by Mana Whenua ki Tamaki Makaurau, a consortium of iwi in South Auckland.

Teams of 12 aim to lose the greatest amount of weight and win $21,000. Miss Hoeta is one of almost 500 Maori participating in 40 teams. There are no prescribed ways of losing weight, instead teams have to figure out an exercise and nutrition plan that will work for them.

Project manager Tahuna Minhinnick said the health benefits would multiply as members took what they learned into their communities. "What we hope to achieve by doing this is long-term change within the whanau.

"We are also taking the pressure off individuals and have replaced personal trainers with whanau trainers."

Ms Hoeta had already trimmed down to 131.8kg before the start of the competition and now weighs 117kg.

Her team includes sisters Florence Hoeta, 41, and Geranium Hoeta, 39.

During the challenge they've lost 43 kilograms by going to the gym, doing Tae Bo and Zumba exercise classes and cutting out fatty foods.

Florence has become the group's super nutritionist, able to rattle off an alternative meal to KFC that has a ridiculously small amount of calories in comparison to the takeout that used to be part of her lifestyle.

"Every family eats from the same pot, so we're all learning new habits.

"The best thing about this team is that we're all here to support each other, we're not doing it by ourselves."

At Tahuna Marae, their relations can't believe the sisters are actually the same women, Elizabeth says.

WEIGHING IN

Maori Overweight or Obese:
* 57 per cent men.
* 60 per cent women.
* 47 per cent girls.
* 35 per cent boys.

What 500 Auckland Maori are doing:
* 12-Week Whanau Weight Loss Challenge.
* 12 team members competing to be the biggest losers.