Latest news with #DaveLetele
NZ Herald
17-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Help for those helping hardest-hit
Dave Letele's urgent advice for the charities changing NZ lives. Dave Letele's work stories should come with a warning: readers are advised they may find this article distressing. To that though, the founder of the BBM foodbank and motivational charity would probably say: 'tough'. This is the way life is for many New Zealanders today. Letele, a community ambassador for Z Energy (Z), shares a story that moved him recently. 'There's a grandmother in Manukau trying to keep her grandkids together. The mum's going through addiction, the father's in prison. She begged me for help – not asked, begged. 'So I went there, and she felt she had to prove to me just how poor she was. She opened up her fridge. It had half a dog roll and a packet of chuck steak and the cupboard had an empty box of Weet-Bix and a bottle of cooking oil. What's she going to do if it's not for groups like us? If not for all these community groups that are on the ground, helping everyone that needs a hand? 'When I started working there, it was hard in our community and it's just got so much harder. There's more demand and less support. 'I keep thinking, what would be the cost if groups like BBM can no longer continue? What would be the cost to New Zealand?' Another true story. 'A lady messaged me saying, there's a young family getting searched by the police outside her house. They searched the kids' schoolbags and all they pulled out was food. 'That's where things are at. If we want to improve our society, we've got to support the groups that are on the ground to have an impact and watch what can be achieved.' It's why Letele is passionate about encouraging groups to apply for help from Z's Good in the Hood. The company's flagship community programme that has been running for over a decade and in recent years, has distributed $1 million annually to more than 500 groups across the motu, ranging from food security and youth development to safety and wellbeing. Applications for Good in the Hood 2025 are open from June 3-29. To apply, groups simply need to fill out an online form saying who they are, what they do and how they support the community around their local Z. Z stresses the groups don't need to be a registered charity – the programme backs all kinds of non-profit, purpose-led mahi. Each participating Z station gives away $5000, split between four different groups in their community, chosen by that local Z team. Customers vote for the groups in-store from August 26 – September 21, and the money is then divided according to the votes for each group. The programme aims to increase support for Māori- and iwi-led organisations too, as internal reviews highlighted they are under-represented in funding statistics. In 2023, Z began working with Letele to improve outreach and access to those groups. As part of its commitment to funding equity across all Z's social investment, the company also runs the Regional Boost initiative, with an emphasis on supporting Māori and using the index of deprivation to guide additional funding to communities with the greatest need. Letele knows the power of Good in the Hood from the grassroots all too well after he originally applied for funding for his foodbank. A few years on, Z supports the running costs, fuel and leases for his South Auckland-based BBM programmes covering food security, motivational courses, fitness and wellness initiatives, and for him to become Z's Community Ambassador. 'If you just take our food bank, which we've had to scale down a little bit, we're helping 100 families every single week, and an average family is between five and 10 people. And then you've got our gyms where we run three to five classes per day, which are all free. Our health programmes do anything from getting people off the couch to helping people with multiple long-term health conditions. 'A JB Were economic impact report showed that $13 is returned for every $1 invested, which is a massive return. We're impacting literally thousands of people every week.' But, Letele says, 'We know there are many other organisations out there in the community, and perhaps they don't know where to go or who to talk to, to get some help for their work. 'We have a really good profile and it's still hard for us to get funding. Imagine what it's like for groups that are doing just as much work but don't have the public profile we have. 'That's the benefit of Good in the Hood. Not only can those groups receive donations, but it gets the word out about the work they're doing. They're engaging with the public who are coming into the service stations. A lot of the time, people wouldn't have heard of many of these groups, so it's a great way for them to be able to get their name out there, and for people to learn about what they do, as well as the funds they receive. It's something for everyone to build on.'
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Study finds Māori, Pacific communities can reshape media narratives
Brown Buttabean Motivation founder Dave Letele. Photo: Stuff / David White A new study shows Māori and Pasifika community initiatives can use media stereotypes to create their own narrative. The University of Auckland study, 'Taking the mic: Māori and Pacific voices in the media' examined the success of Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the study's lead author Dr Sandra Smith, senior marketing lecturer at the University of Auckland, over time, and especially during lockdowns, BBM became "much more than just a bootcamp and how to eat healthy". "It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers," she said. University of Auckland senior marketing lecturer Dr Sandra Smith says organisations working to assist Indigenous and diverse communities should take control of their narrative in the news rather than reacting to media coverage. Photo: Supplied / William Chea / University of Auckland Outlined in the report, Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa face entrenched socio-economic and health gaps, including lower life expectancy and higher obesity rates. "Māori have experienced socio-economic deprivation because of colonisation and racism, manifesting in their significantly reduced life expectancy compared to non-Māori. Similarly, Pacific people also experience socio-economic and health inequities," the study said. "These health inequities were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring a consideration of the changing experiences and requirements of diverse communities." Smith said these disparities can be worsened by mainstream media that frame health as an individual's responsibility, rather than a societal one. "Media narratives can shape how others view Māori and Pacific people and how Māori and Pacific people view themselves," Smith said, noting past decades of biased coverage. "So, we were interested in whether the media was actually reflecting the community in an accurate way, in a truthful way, or in a biased way." Pre-COVID, the study found that news media themes were consistently in line with high attendance at BBM's bootcamp. However, COVID-19 created different issues for the community and BBM adapted to the new environment and focused on new function programmes in response. Photo: Screenshot / Graph / University of Auckland Using the kaupapa Māori framework, Te Whare Tapa Whā and Pacific framework Fonofale, the researchers analysed 102 media articles and interviews (27 before Covid-19, 75 during) via computer-assisted tools and member checks with BBM. They tracked shifts in top media themes, such as Letele, people, weight, life and boxing, food, health, lockdown, children, and community support. "Covid-19 created different issues for the community. BBM adapted… New themes such as food, lockdown and children are reflective of this adaptation," Smith said. "It became more than just a bootcamp, but a community [and] a whānau." The study found that as gyms shut due to lockdown restrictions, BBM's strong social-media presence which let it livestream workouts, share health information and organise food parcels - became a safe space for whānau. "That's where they reach out to each other. That's how they perhaps coped when people were being locked down, losing their jobs, not knowing where their next healthy meal was coming from. That was a place where people obviously used those channels to connect." Smith said from previous research in the health space, specific communities - including Māori and Pacific - will respond better to their own people when it comes to disseminating important information or getting advice. "They're a lot more trusting of people within their own community. So, I think BBM then became a very important conduit for perhaps some of the health messaging helping people to navigate through some of the confusions around the time of the pandemic." Despite some lingering stereotypes, media coverage of BBM was "reasonably friendly… and reasonably accurate", the researchers found. "It's good to see that the media was reasonably friendly towards this community and was reasonably accurate. It wasn't perfect, but that was one of the key findings," Smith said. Dave Letele in studio with Guyon Espiner. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly Letele's ability to co-create his own media narrative was a stand out finding, Smith said. "Dave's own celebrity status… he was quite proactive and quite good at co-creating the narrative with the media rather than just having the media telling his story." Smith hopes this study will inspire other community-based groups to pick up the mic and tell their own stories. "I saw that Dave was very proactive in actually reaching out to the media, ensuring that the community's story was told accurately... I think communities can take a more proactive stance," she said. "Not necessarily waiting for mainstream media to create your narrative, but using the media channels that they're using themselves to tell their story." She said this specific study is a great way of learning about how Māori and Pacific people benefited from having a community like BBM. "I think we can all take something out of this story." The paper is published in the Pacific Health dialogue - a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region - and is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Taking The Mic: Māori And Pacific Voices In The Media
Press Release – University of Auckland Savvy media interaction can shape the perception and success of community-led health initiatives, particularly for Māori and Pacific people, according to a recent study. Organisations working to assist Indigenous and diverse communities should take control of their narrative in the news rather than reacting to media coverage, according to research led by University of Auckland senior marketing lecturer Dr Sandra Smith. Published in Pacific Health Dialog, a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region, the paper is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council. It examines how Aotearoa New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation, Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), the brainchild of former professional boxer Dave Letele, navigated media narratives before and during the pandemic. Smith and colleagues examined how Māori and Pacific communities were framed in the media when referencing the health programme, whether those narratives aligned with, enhanced or competed against the organisation's message, and how the personal brand of Letele and Brown Buttabean Motivation evolved. By using Māori and Pacific research methodologies and analysing more than 100 media articles and interviews, the study found that although media narratives reinforced some negative tropes, such as an emphasis on Māori and Pacific people experiencing higher prevalence of obesity than national averages, Letele's reputation and positive public persona allowed him to shape media narratives. 'Letele was proactive in reaching out to journalists and editors, and ensuring that the community's story was told accurately,' says Smith.'This level of engagement is valuable for Māori and Pacific led organisations, who can sometimes struggle to have their voices heard and accurately represented in the mainstream media.' The fact that the media accurately represented the organisation, its activities and its philosophy, without a specific spin or bias, and with only limited evidence of negative media framing, contrasts with the negative stereotypes frequently encountered in the representation of Māori and Pacific people in the mass media, says Smith. 'This is likely due to Dave Letele's ability to influence the coverage proactively, to a greater extent than would usually occur between community agencies and the press,' she says. 'Māori and Pacific people face significant health inequities, often exacerbated by media framing that places the burden of health on individuals rather than that of government or society.' The findings also show how the health and fitness organisation adapted and changed during the pandemic, shifting to supporting people by providing food and online classes and linking members with important information and services. 'It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers.' Smith and her fellow researchers hope the study will inspire other community-based groups and charities to take a more active role in their media engagement and say media outlets should be mindful of the impact their reporting can have on such groups. 'Dave Letele's ability to engage with the media and shape the discourse around Brown Buttabean Motivation is a game-changer,' she says. 'It's a powerful example of how Indigenous and diverse communities can positively influencepublic perception and knowledge of their activities and offerings.'
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Taking The Mic: Māori And Pacific Voices In The Media
Press Release – University of Auckland Mori and Pacific people face significant health inequities, often exacerbated by media framing that places the burden of health on individuals rather than that of government or society. Savvy media interaction can shape the perception and success of community-led health initiatives, particularly for Māori and Pacific people, according to a recent study. Organisations working to assist Indigenous and diverse communities should take control of their narrative in the news rather than reacting to media coverage, according to research led by University of Auckland senior marketing lecturer Dr Sandra Smith. Published in Pacific Health Dialog, a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region, the paper is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council. It examines how Aotearoa New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation, Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), the brainchild of former professional boxer Dave Letele, navigated media narratives before and during the pandemic. Smith and colleagues examined how Māori and Pacific communities were framed in the media when referencing the health programme, whether those narratives aligned with, enhanced or competed against the organisation's message, and how the personal brand of Letele and Brown Buttabean Motivation evolved. By using Māori and Pacific research methodologies and analysing more than 100 media articles and interviews, the study found that although media narratives reinforced some negative tropes, such as an emphasis on Māori and Pacific people experiencing higher prevalence of obesity than national averages, Letele's reputation and positive public persona allowed him to shape media narratives. 'Letele was proactive in reaching out to journalists and editors, and ensuring that the community's story was told accurately,' says Smith.'This level of engagement is valuable for Māori and Pacific led organisations, who can sometimes struggle to have their voices heard and accurately represented in the mainstream media.' The fact that the media accurately represented the organisation, its activities and its philosophy, without a specific spin or bias, and with only limited evidence of negative media framing, contrasts with the negative stereotypes frequently encountered in the representation of Māori and Pacific people in the mass media, says Smith. 'This is likely due to Dave Letele's ability to influence the coverage proactively, to a greater extent than would usually occur between community agencies and the press,' she says. 'Māori and Pacific people face significant health inequities, often exacerbated by media framing that places the burden of health on individuals rather than that of government or society.' The findings also show how the health and fitness organisation adapted and changed during the pandemic, shifting to supporting people by providing food and online classes and linking members with important information and services. 'It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers.' Smith and her fellow researchers hope the study will inspire other community-based groups and charities to take a more active role in their media engagement and say media outlets should be mindful of the impact their reporting can have on such groups. 'Dave Letele's ability to engage with the media and shape the discourse around Brown Buttabean Motivation is a game-changer,' she says. 'It's a powerful example of how Indigenous and diverse communities can positively influencepublic perception and knowledge of their activities and offerings.'
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Taking The Mic: Māori And Pacific Voices In The Media
Savvy media interaction can shape the perception and success of community-led health initiatives, particularly for Māori and Pacific people, according to a recent study. Organisations working to assist Indigenous and diverse communities should take control of their narrative in the news rather than reacting to media coverage, according to research led by University of Auckland senior marketing lecturer Dr Sandra Smith. Published in Pacific Health Dialog, a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region, the paper is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council. It examines how Aotearoa New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation, Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), the brainchild of former professional boxer Dave Letele, navigated media narratives before and during the pandemic. Smith and colleagues examined how Māori and Pacific communities were framed in the media when referencing the health programme, whether those narratives aligned with, enhanced or competed against the organisation's message, and how the personal brand of Letele and Brown Buttabean Motivation evolved. By using Māori and Pacific research methodologies and analysing more than 100 media articles and interviews, the study found that although media narratives reinforced some negative tropes, such as an emphasis on Māori and Pacific people experiencing higher prevalence of obesity than national averages, Letele's reputation and positive public persona allowed him to shape media narratives. "Letele was proactive in reaching out to journalists and editors, and ensuring that the community's story was told accurately," says Smith."This level of engagement is valuable for Māori and Pacific led organisations, who can sometimes struggle to have their voices heard and accurately represented in the mainstream media." The fact that the media accurately represented the organisation, its activities and its philosophy, without a specific spin or bias, and with only limited evidence of negative media framing, contrasts with the negative stereotypes frequently encountered in the representation of Māori and Pacific people in the mass media, says Smith. "This is likely due to Dave Letele's ability to influence the coverage proactively, to a greater extent than would usually occur between community agencies and the press," she says. "Māori and Pacific people face significant health inequities, often exacerbated by media framing that places the burden of health on individuals rather than that of government or society." The findings also show how the health and fitness organisation adapted and changed during the pandemic, shifting to supporting people by providing food and online classes and linking members with important information and services. "It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers." Smith and her fellow researchers hope the study will inspire other community-based groups and charities to take a more active role in their media engagement and say media outlets should be mindful of the impact their reporting can have on such groups. "Dave Letele's ability to engage with the media and shape the discourse around Brown Buttabean Motivation is a game-changer," she says. "It's a powerful example of how Indigenous and diverse communities can positively influencepublic perception and knowledge of their activities and offerings."
