The national association of kura kaupapa Maori is backing calls for government policy to support community programmes trying to tackle obesity.
The New Zealand Medication Association on Monday released a report in which Aotearoa was listed as the fourth fattest among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with the rate of obesity highest among Maori adults at 47 percent.
The association recommended an alignment of government policy with community health initiatives, and suggested regulating the location of fast food outlets by schools.
Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa tumuaki Toni Waho said kura needed assurance the kai their students consumed was healthy.
There were government bodies which did that work, and Mr Waho wanted government and kura efforts to complement each other.
