New Zealand inlcudes commitment to HIA in childhood obesity prevention strategy

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday announced that policy HIA will be included as part of a portfolio of initiatives aimed at childhood obesity prevention

We are here today to launch Mission-On, a new $67 million government-wide package of initiatives to help New Zealand's children and young people become healthier, so they can lead active and successful lives.

...Finally, policy makers will be required to carry out health impact assessments when developing new policy and legislation.

Read speech in full

It will be interesting to see how this commitment to HIA develops in practice. The New Zealand Public Health Advisory Committee has developed guidelines on policy HIA which will be readily applicable.

Media Coverage of the Mission-On launch
Helen Clarks' Speech (Scoop)
Opposition Response (Stuff)
Unhealthy Foods Get Chop from Tuck Shops (NZ Herald)
Launch of $67 Million Campaign to Fight Obesity (Radio New Zealand
Campaign Pressures Schools Over Junk Food (Bay of Plenty Times)