Health Action Groups (HAGs)
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Health Action groups, or HAGs as they've called themselves, are a group of students in colleges in Nelson who are interested in young people's health issues. The groups have been going since 1999 when it was kicked off at Nelson College for Girls.
They've been super busy since then working out creative ways to do things about health problems or issues that could be affecting them and their friends.
HAGS 2005
In 2005 HAGs developed a wallet card on safer use of party pills/legal highs as there's not much information available (other than what's put out by manufacturers) and the pills are used by local young people. It was a new thing for HAGs to target an audience outside of their school environment.
Base information was sourced from Altered High (Auckland Alcohol and Drug Service) and the HAGs tweaked the language to make it more user-friendly. They also verified info with the local alcohol and drug service and Christchurch lab.
Local retailers were consulted as part of the process and agreed to distribute the card at point-of-sale. The card contains information on what to expect, minimising side effects and where to go to get help, & is aimed at over-18s who are using party pills. It's been distributed across Nelson/Tasman District with about 75% of retailers agreeing to be involved.
In April 06 the card will be evaluated to guide future development. Antedocatal feedback has been positive and the wallet card has been requested by three other areas. Thanx to Auckland CADS, Bruce Atmore (MoH), Nelson Alcohol and Drug Service, the HAG's themselves! and many others too numerous to mention ....
If you are interested in this resource please contact Health Action for further details.
2004 was a busy year!
HAGs did two major campaigns: "Take a banana to a party" and "Cn u hdl the jndl?"
"Take a banana to a party" produced 60 posters of staff or senior students holding a banana, as well as a main display.
About Alcohol & Bananas!
Alcohol depletes and destroys essential nutrients and vitamins in the body particularly Vitamin A, B (B6 mostly) and potassium which are vital to replace for healthy functioning!
Bananas contain a range of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A and B as well as magnesium and potassium. They also have sugar in the form of fructose (natural fruit sugar)
So why take a banana to a party?
· Good nutritional food which will fill you up and release sugars at a sustained rate therefore good energy (always good to eat if you intend to drink and its portable and easy!)
· The fructose helps burn up the alcohol still in your stomach
· Bananas help replace the potassium which you lose when consuming alcohol
· Bananas have a natural antacid which can help with reducing nausea
· Bananas are high in magnesium which helps in relaxing blood vessels (so can therefore assist with reducing headaches)
The "Cn u hndl the jndl?" poster depicted a + b = c type equations of
a happy character ...
+ image of issue (eg family; sexuality; relationships; body image; relationships; workload; money friends; health; bullying; pregnancy and mental health) ...
= stressed-out looking character.
The main display had the character juggling all the issues, with info on what you could do, what others could do and where to get help.
The group also made a 30-second radio ad for the Rock and The Edge, with voices by Sarah and Nicole. Thanks to ALAC and the Nelson Tasman Youth Network trust for financial support.
2003 was pretty full-on
for HAGs at Nelson College for Girls - everyone was extra busy with other things let alone HAGs. The crew were really keen to get good info out to their peers before the summer party season hit. They put together a safe partying pack for the whole school with an emphasis on being sexually sensible. The pack included practical advice and points out where to get help if anything goes wrong.
Above: jamming the Safe Partying packs
Meanwhile, the Youth Advisory Group have updated the Check YOur Head Posters (below) and the November 2003 edition will be available shortly.
2002 was wicked.
The Nelson College for Girls 2002 crew put together a new party pack for Year 9 students, complete with their own sticker. They also wrote and performed a skit 
with Lulu & Feebee (from the Safer Partying Rules pamphlet - see link below) getting up to all sorts of tricks. They also put together a Youth Board display to support the safety info.
In 2001 the HAGs got real busy!
The Nelson College for Girls crew helped the Nelson Youth Council deliver Alcohol Laws info to their peers for a safer summer. They also put together a skit and party pack to give to junior students with tips for safe partying. Youth Week 2001 was choc-a-bloc with activities including a dating show with Dom from Space TV and mural painting.
Poolside mural 
Waimea College and Motueka High School students developed the Check Your Head pamphlets into posters for our region.
Melinda with Check Your Head posters
In 2000 the HAGs made the Check Your Head pamphlets to help other young people find where to get help for any health problems they might run into.
In 1999 the HAGs researched, wrote and produced the "Lulu says - Safer Partying Rules" pamphlets to give people tips for looking after themselves and others when partying.
If you want to know more about the HAGs, please contact us at the address below.