Areas we work in / Ngā Wāhi Mahi

Community and Public Health seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in our region by supporting the population to become more physically active.

Being physically active helps prevent and manage a wide range of conditions and diseases including:

• Coronary heart disease
• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke
• Colon cancer
• Osteoporosis and
• Obesity.

The key messages regarding physical activity and health are:

• Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible. The recommended time for children is at least 60 minutes.
• Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness.
• Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life.

Mental Wellbeing and Physical Activity

Physical activity releases the “feel good” chemicals (endorphins) into the body, making you feel better.
Community and Public Health actively promotes the Mental Health Foundation’s Winning Ways for Wellbeing and works with key stakeholders to run the annual Walk 4 Wellbeing during Mental Health Awareness week.

Community and Public Health is a member of Active Canterbury which lists local groups, clubs or classes for activities and gives information about parks, tracks and facilities. We support this network in its work to:

• Supply activity providers and health professionals with the tools and information needed to help people get more active, more often.
• Raise awareness of training and funding opportunities to support physical activity
• Links with current physical activity and training providers to provide programmes that meet the needs of the community and the fitness industry.

Community and Public Health supports active lifestyles for Canterbury District Health Board staff by promoting activities such as:

• the Global Corporate Challenge and
• the Love New Zealand Challenge.

Community and Public Health works collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure our urban areas across the region are designed to encourage physical activity (active environments). This includes green spaces, recreational parks and walking trails, and making forms of active transport easier more accessible e.g. public transport, walking and cycling). This is achieved by voicing our point of view on local and regional planning strategies and initiatives.

Documents

	A National Survey of Children and Young People's Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviours in New Zealand: 2008/09 - Key Findings
	Green Prescription Active Families Survey - Final Report
	SPARC 2007/08 Active NZ Survey
	Active Movement: An Introduction (for Under 5s)

Downloads

Order copies from the Community Health Information Centre

	Be Active Every Day: Physical Activity for Adults
	Be Active Every Day: Physical Activity for Children Aged 5 to 18 years
	A guide to Pregnancy and Exercise
	Medical Conditions and Physical Activity (SPARC)

Links

Sport NZ (formerly known as SPARC)
Fitness New Zealand
Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
Active Smart (ACC)
Physical Activity (Ministry of Health)