Summer Steps
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May 2010 Footprints Newsletter of Living Streets Aotearoa May 2010 Walk2Work Day a Huge Success Summer Steps Walk2Work day on March 10 this year saw In Dunedin a commuter train even came to Summer Steps began in March as a one month thousands of New Zealanders leave their cars the party, bringing coastal suburbanites part pilot. This workplace challenge gets teams of at home and take to the streets to walk to of the way. The amazing turnout included 2-6 to log walks, aiming for the most walks, work with friends, family and colleagues. many incorporating walking into their daily and most car trips saved. commute for the Teams can register and log walks online, first time. and get points for every 5 minutes walked (no In 2009, a pedometer required) with bonus points for car survey of partici- journeys saved. pants found that 1 Wellington and Christchurch pilot in 6 were first time programmes in February had a great uptake – walkers, showing 37 teams registered in the first two weeks. the event helps Congratulations to the Wellington winners, many Kiwis ‘take The Power Rangers from Transpower on the the first step’ to Terrace (photo #2 on back page), who logged improve lifestyle nearly 250 walks in February, saving 142 car and commuting journeys! At Wellington’s Walk2Work day Council of cool, harking back to Abbey Road. From left: Mike Tasman-Jones (TDC Recreation habits. event, Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon awarded Advisor), Mayor Richard Kempthorne, David Hill (Richmond Mall Manager) and Judene Edgar The Director of them with free night tour passes kindly (TDC Councillor and Walk2Work organiser). Nelson Marlbor- donated by Zealandia, the Karori Wildlife Each event had its own local flair, with ough DHB’s Nutrition & Physical Activity Experience. The winning Christchurch team locally sponsored breakfast snacks and coffee, programme, Helen Steenbergen, says that were the Dialysis Dawdlers of Canterbury DHB. as well as speakers and spot prizes. W2W Day walking, as part of a balanced lifestyle, Together the teams saved 1,275 car journeys! is part of a Living Streets campaign to get helps people enjoy a long and healthy life. Our survey found that half of the people walking more in their daily lives. “Research shows that fit employees are more participants never or seldom walked to work Living Streets coordinated over 20 events productive and happier”, Mrs Steenbergen said. before starting Summer Steps. Whilst taking nationwide from Auckland down to Dunedin. continued on back page... part 75% walked more often than before, and since the pilot over 75% are maybe or definitely more likely to walk more often. The Summer Steps programme itself Golden Foot adopted a team approach, working in Walking Awards Membership Renewals... Wellington with a Regional Council initiative When we ran the inaugural Golden ...were sent out to all our members with the called Active a2b, which aims to support Foot Awards last year, they were March newsletter. This is a gentle reminder individuals to develop walking habits, to be biennial.However, in recent to please ensure that this is paid promptly to secure mentors, set targets and keep at planning sessions it was decided to run the avoid us having to use valuable resources to it. The Summer Steps team challenge was awards annually. Information about the 2010 follow up on non-payment. If you have any recommended to all those registered for Awards has been sent out, with a closing date queries about fee payment or membership Active a2b, and many commented on the for nominations of 30th June. The Awards please contact Lily Linton on 04 385 8280 effectiveness of Summer Step’s team approach will be presented at a ceremony at the Walk- or [email protected]. If for with respect to motivation. ing Conference. We were thrilled with the any reason you do not wish to renew your The Summer Steps online programme is high standard of entries submitted last year, membership please let us know. still available for current and new teams. and we look forward to some exciting entries Look out for updates, as we stride into this year. See www.livingstreets.org.nz/ autumn and want you to keep the pace up. walking_awards2010. Look out for Living Streets Aotearoa and Jenny-Kaye Potaka our events on Facebook: www.facebook. ~ Living Streets’ Acting Project Officer. com/group.php?gid=94215686932 may 2010 | 1 Contacts From the Director’s Desk What can they do to make things better for Director Liz Thomas | 04 385 8280 people on foot? [email protected] The first step is to encourage more people President to go out walking in their community. The Peter Kortegast | 03 546 3666 more people out on footpaths and streets, [email protected] the more awareness there will be that people Walk Auckland need safe and attractive places to walk. Andy Smith | 09 361 2133 Parents can encourage their children and [email protected] their friends to walk to school, and can walk Living Streets North Shore Gay Richards | 09 445 6568 with them or set up walking school buses. [email protected] People can arrange to meet their friends Living Streets Manukau and walk together to church, to pre-school, Donna Wynd | 021 2377 779 and to events in their community. Groups [email protected] of workers can walk together to work, to Living Streets Hamilton meetings during their work day, or during Judy MacDonald | 07 855 2019 Liz Thomas, Director their lunch break. This all requires talking [email protected] to people and getting to know them better Walk Taupo Jackie Gartner | 07 378 6960 s As part of its funding for walk- – a great way of strengthening community [email protected] ing and cycling facilities, the spirit and breaking down the social isolation Living Streets Palmerston North government has allocated seven caused by travelling everywhere by car. Chris Teo-Sherrell millionA dollars over the next two years for The next step is for people out walking [email protected] the Model Communities programme. This was to collect information about what could Living Streets Wellington one of the strategic initiatives in the 2006 improve conditions for people on foot, and Paula Warren | 04 388 8625 implementation plan for the national walking to lobby local councils to invest money on [email protected] and cycling strategy ‘Getting There—on foot, good footpaths, safe crossings and attractive Living Streets Lower Hutt by cycle’. It’s encouraging that the present street design. Councils around the country Jan Simmons | 04 568 7943 [email protected] government has now picked this up, and we are consulting on their draft Annual Plans Bike Walk Marlborough can expect to see some action. at present, so now is the time to make the Robin Dunn From the 22 applications received for the voice of pedestrians heard loud and clear. [email protected] Model Communities funding, the NZTA has Parents talking about how their child’s trip Walk Nelson Tasman shortlisted four councils and invited them to to school could be made safer, or an elderly [email protected] submit stage 2 proposals. These are Nelson, person recounting their experience of uneven Living Streets Canterbury New Plymouth, Taupo and Hastings. The footpaths are what bring the realities of Chrys Horn | 03 338 0313 programme aims to invest the money in two walking to the council table. There is money [email protected] or three communities to give them a boost available to all councils for roading, it’s Living Streets West Coast Rosie McGrath | (03) 768 1160 ext 716 to improve walking and cycling facilities, where they put their priorities that makes the [email protected] so that walking and cycling are the easiest difference. Living Streets Dunedin transport choices for the community. The ex- This edition of Footprints is looking at Judy Martin | 03 465 8437 pectation is that by demonstrating the posi- making the most of our walking communities, [email protected] tive changes resulting from more investment and what we can do to make walking the first Living Streets Queenstown in walking and cycling, planning will change choice for short trips. If enough passionate [email protected] so that walking and cycling are used as the walkers are out on the streets enjoying them- National Office focus of integrated planning in the future. selves, socialising with friends and neighbours, Level 7 ANZAC House The communities selected as Model and reaping the benefits of better health and 181 Willis Street PO Box 25 424 Communities will get an injection of money a more vibrant community, others will follow. Wellington to improve walking and cycling. But what ~ Liz Thomas Phone (04) 385 8280 about all the other communities? Fax (04) 385 4962 [email protected] Would you like to see your We are interested in advertising for urban de- business in Footprints? sign, community, health, transport, consultants, Editor & Designer: Freda Wells products, events … we’d love to hear from you! Supervisor: Lily Linton The Footprints team is looking for people who Contributions, articles and feedback can be sent to ISSN 1177-8369 (print) are interested in advertising in our quarterly the editor at: [email protected]. ISSN 1177-8377 (online) newsletter to help cover production costs. Read past editions of Footprints online: www. If you have a corporate event or walk- Disclaimer: views expressed in Footprints are livingstreets.org.nz/newsletter. not necessarily those of Living Streets Aotearoa ing related product to promote get in touch: The content deadline for the August edition [email protected] or ph 04 385 8280.