The Race Is On To Find NZ's Most Active Region

Media Release
September 17, 2006

The Race Is On To Find NZ's Most Active Region

SPARC (Sport & Recreation New Zealand) is challenging mayors to get their regions moving in a bid to find New Zealand's most active region.

The challenge is part of Push Play Nation a month dedicated to getting Kiwis up and active from October 1st.

The drive to get Kiwis to take up the Push Play Nation challenge starts today Kiwis can register on-line at www.sparc.org.nz or call 0800 ACTIVE (228 483).

Over the month, we'll be closely monitoring which regions have the highest numbers of residents signing up to Push Play Nation and where the couch potatoes are hiding.

Recent research reveals that South Islanders are ahead of their North Island counterparts in general activity levels. We'll provide you with weekly updates to see which regions are taking up this challenge to be active up until SPARC's sixth annual Push Play Day on November 3rd.

"The Push Play message is all about having fun while you get active and working physical activity into your everyday life," SPARC's Manager, Push Play, Deb Hurdle says.

"This year, we wanted to dedicate a whole month to celebrating that message rather than just one day. We believe the regional challenge is another exciting way to encourage people to get moving."

Push Play Nation is part of SPARC's long-term Push Play campaign to get New Zealanders up and active. Last year, SPARC launched the successful Activator wheel an activity tool designed for people who wanted to get active, but didn't know where to start.

"Push Play Nation builds on from the Activator campaign and goes one step further by giving you ideas on how to be active for a whole month it takes 21-30 days to form a habit," Deb Hurdle says.

SPARC's last national survey (2001-2002) showed 32% (or 233,000) young people and 32% (or 878,000) adults were insufficiently active to gain health benefits at that time, completing either no physical activity at all a week or less than 2.5 hours.

"We've come a long way since our last survey, with more people becoming active than ever before, but we want this to continue and believe Push Play Nation will help encourage people to keep up the good work," Deb Hurdle adds.

Ends

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