Healthy Environments

05 Aug Massive potential health gains in switching to active transport

Posted at 10:46h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Swapping short car trips for walking or biking could achieve as much health gain as ongoing tobacco tax increases, according to a study from the University of Otago, Wellington. Lead author Dr Anja Mizdrak, of Otago’s Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity, and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (Department of...

10 Jun Changing how we think about transport for our health and the environment now!

Posted at 16:09h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

As a nation, we need to change the way we think about transport for our health and the environment. And we need to start now. Our reliance on fossil-fuelled transport contributes to 17% of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Walking and cycling present an easy and...

16 May A Healthy Lifestyle Reduces the Risk of Dementia

Posted at 09:38h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

People can reduce their risk of dementia by getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization...

30 Apr Turning the Tide- from cars to active transport

Posted at 16:18h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Read the report and other documents here...

28 Nov $23 million to get more kids on bikes

Posted at 08:35h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today announced that the NZ Transport Agency will provide $23 million over the next three years to expand the Bikes in Schools and cycle skills education to get more Kiwi kids on their bikes. Cycling is a fun, easy...

06 Sep Cycling the Blackfriars Mile

Posted at 12:37h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

I met Lucy Godfrey at the 2 Walk and Cycle conference in Palmerston North in July 2018. Lucy works for Mott MacDonald in Auckland as a Senior Transport Planner and she previously worked in the UK for Transport for London. I was inspired by her...

27 Aug Just a Bit More Biking

Posted at 09:11h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Cars are like plastic bags. They’re not bad in themselves, it is just that we use them too often and too much. The crazy thing is that plenty of car trips in urban areas are short. (1) Short enough to walk or cycle. Sometimes we...

17 Jul Active Transport: A reflection for Aotearoa

Posted at 09:50h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

This document discusses the findings from ANA's scan of the literature on active transport. Active transport is one way to increase physical activity. Active transport is well known to have environmental and economic benefits. Cycling and walking provide substantial economic benefits for households. A key finding...

11 Jun Ripple Effect as West Auckland Schools Choose Water as First Choice

Posted at 11:36h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Healthy Families Waitakere has been working alongside 32 schools in West Auckland to implement water only policies and strengthen messaging around water within school environments. With the support of principals, teachers and board members, students have been driving water related changes in their schools. This has...

06 Jun #BeActive: What Can You do?

Posted at 15:37h in Healthy Environments by Alison Pask

Kay Thomson, manager of strategic projects at Sport NZ shares her insightful blog with ANA. Did you wake up this morning wondering how you could get more people and populations more physically active? If so, then you are reading the right article. Do you remember the 7th...