Transcript
COLIN TUKUITONGA: Well it is very complicated, but one thing that we've got to be careful about, and I personally don't use the word 'lifestyle'. A 'lifestyle' assumes a choice. And yes there's an element of choice here but essentially we know that children who are affected by obesity and so on often don't have a lot of choice. Some people in New Zealand for example, Pacific people or indigenous Maori or other New Zealanders at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum. Their choices are limited. And we know that in some communities and neighbourhoods, the food that is available, the choices are often cuts of meat that we don't think are appropriate. And so it is actually quite an expensive business having a healthy diet and to simply say well at the end of the day it is a choice thing and it's individual responsibility is unfortunate because we know that there are systemic issues that also have a bearing on this. The environment in which people live and work will have a bearing. And this has been one of the big topics that's being discussed here this week as well.
KOROI HAWKINS: So it's almost a vicious cycle. You eat healthy to live healthy, but also in order to live healthy you've got to have the quality of life or the means to live healthy.
CT: Well you just take a simple thing like fresh fish. In New Zealand, and in many parts of the Pacific, fresh fish is more expensive than tinned fish. And of course if you're on a limited income, you're going to eat tinned fish, even though we know it's not as good for you. The same with fresh vegetables. The unfortunate fact is these are more expensive than what people might eat. So we might well have a view and a notion of what should it be. But the reality for many communities is it's more challenging than that.
KH: And in terms of exercise, maybe lax labour laws and working hours that people have to work to survive, don't allow them to exercise...
CT: Yeah and many in the Pacific community work two jobs. And yes of course we should all make an effort to be more active, no question. But often some of these neighbourhoods are not safe. So people, women in particular for example, would be very careful about going out walking because the communities are not safe. So the idea that individuals (have choice) I think is unfortunately short-sighted and doesn't address the whole challenge of NCDs.
