Encouraging and supporting physical activity in our community
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:
- Heart disease and hypertension;
- Type 2 diabetes;
- Stroke;
- Cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer;
- Depression, dementia and anxiety;
- Osteoporosis and fractures; and
- Obesity.
The key messages regarding physical activity and health are:
- Be active every day in as many ways as possible – for at least 30 minutes for adults and at least 60 minutes for children.
- Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness.
- Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life.
- Reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down.
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 Five Ways for Wellbeing.
Community and Public Health contributes to the Equally Well Project. This project aims to reduce physical health disparities between people who experience mental health and addiction problems and people who don’t.
Staff at the Christchurch office of Community and Public Health work with people in disadvantaged areas and run the BuyCycles pilot project in partnership with the Community Focus Trust.
Contributing to physical activity in the community
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
- provide education programmes that meet the needs of local community physical activity providers and the wider fitness industry.
Community and Public Health also supports workplaces to improve staff wellbeing by increasing their physical activity.
We also work to ensure our urban areas are designed to encourage physical activity collaboratively with key stakeholders across the region. This includes green spaces, recreational parks and walking trails, and making forms of active transport easier more accessible (such as public transport, walking and cycling). This is achieved by contributing to local and regional planning strategies and initiatives.
Documents
- Being active during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Ministry of Health 2019).
- Green Prescription Active Families Survey Report (Ministry of Health 2019).
- Green Prescription Patient Survey 2018 Report (Ministry of Health 2019).
- Active NZ Survey 2017 (Sport NZ 2018).
- Sit Less, Move More, Sleep Well: Active play guidelines for under-fives (Ministry of Health 2017).
- The Economic and Social Value of Sport and Recreation to New Zealand (Sport NZ 2017).
- The Value of Sport (Sport NZ 2017).
- Guidelines on Physical Activity for Older People aged 65 years and over (Ministry of Health 2013).
- Sport and Recreation in the Lives of Young New Zealanders (Sport NZ 2012).
- A Prescription for Good Health: Green prescriptions in action (Ministry of Health 2012).
- A National Survey of Children and Young People’s Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviours in New Zealand: 2008/09 – Key Findings (Ministry of Health 2010).
- Being Active When You Live with Mental Illness (Mental Health Foundation NZ).
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Be Active Every Day: Physical Activity for Adults – available to download only.
- Be Active Every Day: Physical Activity for Children Aged 5 to 18 years
- A guide to Pregnancy and Exercise
Links
- Ministry of Health
- Sport NZ (formerly known as SPARC)
- Exercise Association of New Zealand (formerly Fitness NZ)
- Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs)
Contact your local CPH office for further information:
CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6125
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
Fax: +64 3 688 6091
WEST COAST
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
Fax: +64 3 768 1169
Low cost physical activity options in your area
Updated: October 2019
There are many activities that are free or for low cost for anyone to join in your region. The following information sheets list are some of the options available near you.
- Christchurch City including Banks Peninsula.
- Selwyn District.
- Waimakariri District.
- North Canterbury including Hurunui and Kaikoura Districts.
- Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury including Ashburton, Mackenzie, Timaru and Waimate Districts.
- West Coast including Buller, Grey and Westland Districts.
Health risks of too much sitting
- Find out about the health risks of sitting down or being sedentary for long hours (Just Stand.org).
- Read the World Health Organisation factsheet on physical inactivity.
- Read an information sheet on the dangers of sitting (Better Health Victoria).
Featured physical activity initiatives
- Find out how to inspire or motivate young women to move more (Girls Make your Move).
- Make your own walking poster – from your home, work or school to your favorite local places (All Right?).
- Just having access to a green space has multiple physical and mental health benefits. But they don’t just grow by themselves.
Park It is a how-to-guide showing how to turn a grey space green. - Tri Pounamu supports physical activity for whānau in Ōtautahi who identify as having Māori heritage. They provide an encouraging entry point into fitness and exercise groups as well as training for upcoming events.