28 March 2008
40,000 more Kiwi kids back on their feet as Walk to School Week goes nationwide
A record number of Kiwi kids got on their feet and walked to class during Feet First Walk to School Week 2008, from
March 3-7.
Figures released today by Land Transport New Zealand show that over 100,000 students from 440 participating schools hit
the footpaths on Walk to School Day (Wednesday March 5), 40,000 more than recorded in a survey carried out two weeks
before.
The proportion of children walking to the participating schools increased from an average of 41 percent prior to Feet
First week to an average of 73 percent on Walk to School Day - a big boost for walking and a significant decrease in the
number of students being driven to school.
Feet First Walk to School Week activities took place in 43 towns, cities and districts across the country this year,
helping to double the number of participating schools and students from last year.
The results throughout the country were impressive, with eight schools managing to achieve 100 percent on Walk to School
Day, with all of their students walking to school on this day. Schools with the highest participation rates received
prizes as follows:
$2,000 worth of sports gear - Sunset Primary School, Rotorua
$500 worth of sports gear - Maungawhau School, Auckland; Mellons Bay School, Auckland; Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te
Rotoiti, Rotorua; Brightwater School, Tasman; Waimairi School, Christchurch
$250 worth of sports gear - St Francis School, Auckland; Riverhead School, Auckland; Te Kura o Matapihi, Tauranga;
Henley School, Tasman; Limehills School, Southland
Congratulations to the following schools who have won Sanitarium breakfasts for the entire school for getting the most
students walking to school during the week:
Bayfield School, Auckland
Henderson Intermediate, Auckland
Selwyn Ridge School, Tauranga
Papamoa School, Tauranga
Kapanui School, Kapiti Coast
San Antonio School, Wellington
Thorrington School, Christchurch
Westburn School, Christchurch
Special mention goes to Brightwater School in the Tasman District, who managed to achieve a 100% participation rate for
all 228 of their students every day of the week.
Visit www.landtransport.govt.nz/feet-first/results/walk-to-school-week.html for a full list of the schools that took
part.
To keep the focus on walking to school after the week, schools have also been encouraged to take part in ‘Walking
Wednesdays’ during the first term. Feet First Week and the Walking Wednesdays programme aim to get more children out of
cars and onto their feet. Children are encouraged to continue walking to school with friends or caregivers, or as part
of a walking school bus throughout the year.
Walking to school increases fitness, health, social interaction with for children, while reducing the amount of money
spent on petrol, relieving congestion at the school gate, and helping to cut energy use and vehicle emissions.
ENDS