Healthy Christchurch is a key initiative where cooperation across many different facets of our community can improve the health and well-being of the people of Christchurch.

A draft Healthy Christchurch Charter has been produced, following a successful engagement phase where over 150 groups and organisations expressed an interest in joining together to work for a healthy city. The draft was developed through a series of workshops and hui.

Groups and organisations are now invited to make suggestions regarding the draft charter, until 10 June, 2002.

A final charter will be distributed in late June so that agencies can decide whether they want to sign and become full members of Healthy Christchurch.

The groups and organisations which sign will then write the first Healthy Christchurch Action Plan, outlining the priorities and practical projects which Healthy Christchurch will work on during the lifespan of the first Charter.

Groups involved believe that by working together they will be able to achieve more than they could separately, and can contribute to Healthy Christchurch according to their means.

Those involved agree to meet regularly to address issues of mutual concern, develop priorities and plan cross-sectoral and inter-agency strategies.

Healthy Christchurch has the capacity to become a major vehicle for enabling co-operation between agencies to improve outcomes across population groups.

It has already facilitated greater co-operation between agencies and enabled a number of new partnership projects.

For more information about Healthy Christchurch, go to www.ccc.govt.nz/ HealthyChristchurch, or contact us on 941 8999, email HealthyChristchurch@ccc.govt.nz