Conference organisers team up for Hamilton children

13 October 2016

More than 140 of New Zealand’s top conference organisers are in Hamilton this week for their 40th annual conference, run by the industry association Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ).

CINZ Chief Executive Sue Sullivan says the conference attracts the who’s who of business event experts, and is more than just a talkfest. “We also do something to give back to the local community, and this year we have rolled up our sleeves to build bikes and box carts for a local primary school.”

On Thursday 13 October CINZ conference delegates from all over New Zealand were joined at conference venue Claudelands by children from Fairfield Primary School in Hamilton’s north-east. They presented them with a surprise gift - eight bicycles and eight box carts constructed in a team exercise yesterday, plus 16 helmets.

The project was organised by CINZ in conjunction with the Team Energize programme run by Sport Waikato and Waikato District Health Board.

“A big part of what we do for our members is demonstrate ideas and initiatives to help benefit New Zealand regions, and put into practice the concept of corporate social responsibility,” Sue Sullivan says.

The group was joined by Waikato sporting legend Rob Waddell - rower and yachtsman and the New Zealand Olympic team’s 2016 Chef de Mission - and Matthew Cooper, Chief Executive of Sport Waikato.

“Our team of Energizers are available to provide practical hands on support and assistance to schools and teachers with initiatives like this that will increase the quality and quantity of physical activity,” Mr Cooper says.

ENDS

Background information

Team Energize is run by Sport Waikato and, and began in 2005 as a randomised control trial in Waikato primary schools. Following a successful trial, the programme was extended and offered to all control schools and eventually extended even further to include all Waikato primary and intermediate schools. Energize now works with 242 primary and intermediate schools in the Waikato District Health Board catchment area, which extends from Coromandel to Taumaranui.

Working with Energize, schools develop their own plan in consultation with the children, teachers, parents and wider school community. There are 27 Energizers who help schools with a whole range of initiatives that encourage healthy eating and physical activity. For example:

· Help promote healthy eating through school lunch order systems

· Provide information on healthier food choices for lunches and snacks

· Assist teachers in providing varied and quality daily exercise activities

· Encourage children to choose more active play options at home.

About Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ)

· CINZ www.conventionsnz.co.nz is the official, membership based association of New Zealand’s conference and business travel industry with more than 380 members across a broad range of sectors.

· CINZ takes a leadership role in increasing meetings, incentives, conference and events business for the benefit of its members, principal stakeholders and the New Zealand economy.

· CINZ works to actively promote the sector, providing advocacy with central government, and offering assistance, information, professional development and real business opportunities to its members.

· CINZ manages New Zealand’s only national annual trade show MEETINGS.

© Scoop Media