• There are currently 189 students participating in the Niho Kura Programme to date across five sites:
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi-junior classes
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kōtuku- junior classes
  • Te Kōhanga reo o Te Maungārongo
  • Te Kōhanga reo o Te Ngākau Mahana
  • Henderson Primary – currently trialling 1 junior class of 18 tamariki

• There is one additional school (4 classes) and two Kōhanga reo ready to start in term 2:
  • West Harbour School – 4 classes
  • Te Kōhanga reo  o Puawairua- 50+ tamariki
  • Te Kōhanga reo  o Pōmāria -15 tamariki

Niho Kura is a daily supervised tooth brushing and fluoride application programme. It is an evidence based approach, informed and underpinned by Mātauranga Māori. The programme includes the following targeted elements:

• Supervised daily tooth brushing at school
• 6 monthly fluoride applications
• Support for whānau to navigate and access services
• Oral Health Education

Providing daily supervised tooth brushing at Kura, Kōhanga reo, the Niho Kura team guide tamariki to learn how to brush effectively. They also further support whānau to brush at home as well. The team doesn’t always start with the whole Kura. They can start with one or two classes/groups and build up to include everyone as they work through the logistics. This is discussed with Kura the planning stages.

Each education centre provides teacher aides/kaiawhina to undertake the brushing. The Niho Kura team trains them using a train the trainer model, remaining with them for 4-5 days to ensure the learning is embedded and the sessions follow the recommended infection prevention control aspects.

Throughout the programme there is a particular focus on the development of innovative ways of delivering oral health promotion messages that engage whānau and tamariki, supporting their overall wellness. The Niho Kura team’s goal is to move away from the traditional oral health messaging. Building resilience, enabling autonomy and providing choices are the themes for education within the programme.

Although tooth brushing is such a small and simple task, for many whānau there are complexities that impact the ability to undertake brushing in the home. In 2010 MOH studies showed only 42% of tamariki in NZ brushed twice a day. Engagement with whānau is via panui, whānau hui, interaction at Kura, Kōhanga reo and directly to obtain consent and explain clinical treatments. The team also provide resources for whānau to use at home.

It is an exciting opportunity to be able to focus on more preventive treatment, taking a different approach to the traditional oral health promotion methods so the team can be more responsive to our West Auckland community’s needs. The aim of the Niho Kura team is to prove the efficacy of the programme and have it extended to all areas of Auckland, and eventually New Zealand. The programme is a great initiative with the ability to make a big difference for our tamariki.

Niho Kura Pillers

Niho Kura mahi iti, hua nui

Small task huge benefits

Small changes make a big difference

Using fluoridated toothpaste

Learning how to brush teeth effectively

Niho Kura I te ata, Niho Kura I te pō

Learning Day and Night

Brushing teeth twice a day

Niho Kura akomanga rau

Many learning spaces

Brushing teeth at kura will support brushing at home

Whānau can support a child’s learning

Niho Kura Tātai whakapapa e

Past, present and future connections

Because supporting you means supporting your whānau

Doing our best now, so we can do the best for your future

Niho Kura Results and Outcomes to Date

The programme has built a number of successful partnerships, primarily between the ARDS and the West Auckland community. The ARDS outreach team, including an Oral Health Therapist (OHT) and Dental Assistant (DA), have utilised a dental van to provide examinations and full treatment needs along with fluoride applications. This has been very well received throughout the community as both the OHT and DA are fluent in Te reo Māori, and this partnership has postively ensured that there is regular oral care provided to these priority schools and kindergartens.

Many of the pre-school patients were registered but not enrolled for services before, now all of the 189 students are enrolled with the Auckland Regional Dental Service to receive both preventive and restorative treatments. This cohort of patients/schools have not historically been prioritised over and above others, even though they represent the higher needs groups within our communities. They are now benefiting from the focus being specifically directed to their dental needs and a strong preventive programme being provided.

Although the delivery of the programme was affected by circumstances such as covid and weather events, the programme is now seeing increased engagement, improved communication and more consistent services being offered to priority schools.

Relationships between the Special Oral Health Services and Kura Kaupapa and Kōhanga reo within the West Auckland area have never been better, attributable in part to the programme being developed with a Te Ao Māori approach and Niho Kura’s commitment to the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The programme is proving to be a catalyst to the building of trust and communication between ARDS and our community; enhancing oral health services for West Auckland.

Well Foundation will share the final outcomes of the pilot evaluation upon the completion of the programme.

Future considerations and plans

• The programme is aiming to extend services beyond June 2023 with more schools keen to join in term 3:
  • Birdwood school – awaiting confirmation of how many classes. 
  • Henderson Primary – working with the school to increase classes participating start of term 2

• The extension would mean that the programme’s impact and evalutation can be considered over a longer period, providing more robust results. A decision on the funding needed to extend the programme is expected in the coming weeks.

• The Waikato district of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand is interested in implementing the programme, with the Niho Kura team being invited to present to them in May 2023. 

• Due to the way the programme has been developed, there is considerable interest expressed by the Ministry of Health in expanding it across Auckland and eventually nationally. Evidence suggets that the low intervention nature of this type of preventive programme is the way to deliver dental services in the future, to shift it to a proactive preventive approach.

• Having a nationalised health service with a focus on sharing innovation is helpful to achieving these strategic goals and the programme is already able to demonstrate interest in wider rollout. We look forward to keeping you updated on these discussions and opportunities in the coming months.