The latest Active NZ survey results published this week shows we participate more in sport and physical activity than any other region of New Zealand. We rightly take great pride in the sporting fame of our Mako, Giants and Olympians but we should be equally proud that we top this chart.
Sport New Zealand has been collecting this data on how often people participate in physical activity since 2017 across NZ’s 17 Regional Sports Trusts. We are part of the Sport Tasman Trust area, covering the top of the south. In our region, 94% of young people and 79% of adults do some form of physical activity each week. The survey also reveals we do more hours per week of exercise.
I love that we are so active. It is good for both our physical and mental health. This high level of physical activity contributes to us having the highest median lifespan in the country of 86 years for women and 81 years for men, three years greater than the national average lifespan.
Four factors contribute to our high level of participation in sport – a great climate and natural environment, thousands of volunteers, wonderful facilities such as those at Saxton Field and our Sports Tasman Trust, which champions participation and inclusion.
Council wants to improve on these stellar results and is further investing in our sporting facilities, recreational areas, walkways and cycleways. We are adding lights to cycleways and playing fields, working to secure recreational access on Ngāti Koata land and contributing to a new surf club at Tāhunanui Beach. We’re supporting events such as The Spectacle and helping introduce Park Runs to Nelson. I take great pride in being Mayor of NZ’s most active city and, while I’m no athlete, I try to lead by participating wherever possible.
Sport NZ guidelines are for adults to do 2.5 hours of exercise per week. Our region tops the country with 39% achieving this but we can do better. Our sporting clubs are seeking participants. We also have many places to walk, run, bike, kayak, swim and hike. Let’s put some spring in our step and do more.
