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Drumbo: Cook Islands culture and movement comes to Tokoroa

John Natua of Tokoroa has hit upon a novel way of combining Pacific Islands culture and physical activity -- and it's proving popular.

A New Zealand-born Cook Islander, John is a staff member of Waikato DHB's Population Health Service. So he was well aware of the alarming health statistics for Pacific people and knew about the benefits of regular physical activity. He had been taught how to play the traditional Cook Island drums (skin and wooden) by his father and uncles when he was five, as is often the way in Cook Island families. So he worked with the concept of exercising to island drums, using cultural movements such as the hula to empower and encourage Pacific people to participate.

"The Cook Islands culture was something I was comfortable with, and I wanted something that people could take home and do at their own leisure," John said.

Tokoroa has a growing Pacific population and the 'Drumbo' concept has been well-received. There are two groups doing Drumbo in Tokoroa, meeting twice a week, and one group in Hamilton meeting three times a week. The target age group is 40 to 70 year-olds, and people can exercise from their seats if they are not able to stand or have joint problems. All nationalities are welcome, and as well as Cook Islanders there has been a good response from Samoans and Tongans who are attracted by the drum music, as well as local Maori in Tokoroa.

Choreographers and co-ordinators come up with set routines, but John says people are "becoming creative and adding their own moves."

John says some Pacific Island males had a mindset of dancing and exercise only being for females, or thinking 'I don't need it.'
"So we incorporate the drums to include the men, then hope at a later stage they will be interested in the exercise part."
This has worked to some extent. "The 'papas' are saying 'I want to be part of that excitement; the wives are hassling their husbands to get into it and are big encouragers."

John has also tried to promote Drumbo when other health promotions have been held around the community, and set up demonstrations at a meningococcal B campaign promotion and when the breast screening mobile bus was in town. "The good thing is that when Pacific people hear the drum beats, they want to be involved."

In the short term, John says, the programme may get a few people to lose weight and gain confidence, "but in health promotion we're looking at long-term benefits." Apart from the health benefits, there is also the social aspect -- it's good for elderly people who may be lonely to see their friends and then exercise together. Another pleasing spin-off is that the programme has rekindled a musical tradition that reminds Cook Islanders of their roots.

Those working on Drumbo are developing a CD and other resources that people will be able to take home or into their own groups, as well as training those who lead the sessions. John believes there is potential for other communities to take ownership of their own Drumbo programmes, and he gained some useful new ideas at the recent Call To Action inaugural public health nutrition and physical activity conference. He is also planning a Drumbo conference in 2006.

ENDS

Contact details for John Natua: natuaj@waikatodhb.govt.nz

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Articles and news stories

Drumbo: Cook Islands culture and movement comes to Tokoroa

Healthy Eating - Healthy Action
Oranga Kai - Oranga Pumau