Local body candidates to be quizzed on vision for healthy communities
Voters in this year’s local body elections are being urged by the Heart Foundation and Cancer Society to ask candidates
where they stand when it comes to their visions and proposed initiatives around supporting the development of healthier
communities.
Both organisations say local councils play an important role in helping to create and foster healthy environments for
people. In doing so, they can have a positive effect on reducing the country’s worrying heart disease and cancer rates.
Through their policies and practices, and ultimately the environments they create, local councils can directly help to
reduce smoking rates and New Zealand’s growing obesity rates for both adults and children.
Voters can make a vote for good health and wellbeing by assessing candidates’ views across a range of important areas.
Find out where your candidate sits on the following:• Smokefree outdoor areas:
o Smokefree parks and playgrounds
o Smokefree bus shelters
o Smokefree outdoor dining• Healthy food policies:
o Only healthy food and drinks available at council facilities
o Having free drinking water available at all council facilities and events
• Council has a healthy food and drinks policy for its workplaces and venues• Increasing physical activity by:
o Having great parks and playgrounds that families and children can enjoy
o Encouraging walking and cycling through transport planning and design
o Encouraging greater use of public transport through transport planning and design
Voters have the power in their hands to create healthy communities that they can be proud of.