Step It Up- 2008

For immediate release

Wellington City CBD is setting up to the challenge of getting fighting fit…all of this a month out before the election, as Pushing Play takes on another meaning…

Wellington City is no longer the domain of grey suited bureaucrats sitting at desks all day. A quiet revolution has taken place, with the launch this week of Sport Wellington’s physical activity promotion brainchild ‘Step it Up’. Over 211 teams of 5 people at 61 different workplaces in the Central Business District have taken up the month long physical activity challenge to ‘Step it Up’ and use the stairs at their workplaces rather than taking the lifts. Participants are forgoing taking the lift to go to meetings, or to get their lunch, and instead using often long-forgotten stairwells during this month long challenge. Team members then record the number of stairs they have ‘accrued’ during a working day; the best team in the office wins. 

 ‘The participants are increasing their own physical activity during the day by taking the stairs instead of the lift. A few flights of stairs done every few hours can easily help add up to the 30 minutes a day of physical activity recommended for an adult.’ says Sport Wellington’s Active Communities manager, Caroline Gordon.

 ‘Participants are not just getting snack-activity an easy way, and helping with their own fitness and weight control, but also doing something good for the planet. Every time they don’t take the lift, they are saving electricity, and hence reducing their carbon footprint, or the carbon footprint of their workplace.’

‘We have been overwhelmed at the interest in this campaign. It is really a grass-roots initiative to get people at workplaces with stairs using them to increase their physical activity. We have really been delighted at how many workplaces in the CBD- particularly government departments have taken on this challenge. Even though this particular promotion only lasts until the end of the national Push Play month, finishing on November 7, we are hoping many workplaces and participants will keep going. Small changes in behaviour such as taking the stairs rather than the lift between floors are easy to make and can have an impact on a person’s fitness, well-being and waist-line.’ Gordon added.

To celebrate the end of Push Play month participants are also being encouraged to join The National Heart Foundation and Sport Wellington at the Wellington Heart Foundation Heart Walkers 5km walk. This is to be held on Saturday 8th November starting at Waitangi Park. The event is being held to raise awareness of the disease as well as raising funds to help stomp out heart disease.

Sport Wellington will be celebrating the achievements of participating teams with prizes, certificates, and links to more exercise challenges. For more information visit www.sportwellington.org.nz

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