Living Streets Aotearoa

Canterbury Branch

AIMS

• To promote walking as a healthy, environmentally friendly and universal means of transport and recreation in Canterbury.
• To promote the social and economic benefits of pedestrian-friendly communities in our region.
• To work for improved access and conditions for walkers, pedestrians and runners e.g. walking surfaces, traffic flows, speed and safety.
• To advocate for greater representation of walker and pedestrian concerns in urban and regional land use and transport planning and, as appropriate, at a national level.
• To liaise with other groups, locally, nationally and internationally, to further the objects of the Society.
• To build up an effective supporter base in the Canterbury Region.

PROGRESS

• 14-10-03 Wendy Everingham organised a meeting at the Christchurch City Council to establish if a walking advocacy group is needed for the Canterbury region. A broad range of stakeholders attended the meeting. Councillors, council staff, academics, transport consultants, ECAN, LTSA, members of the public. There was broad consensus that an advocacy group was needed.  New government policy on sustainable transport initiatives means walking issues will receive a higher profile. Input will be needed form many stakeholders to enhance the walking environment.
• Celia Wade Brown a Wellington City Councillor and founding member of walking advocacy group Living Streets Aotearoa gave a detailed presentation at this meeting on what a walking advocacy group does and how a Canterbury branch of this organization is needed. Celia was very supportive of a Canterbury group affiliating with the National Organisation.
• Wendy Everingham and Simon Rutherford volunteered to establish a Walking Advocacy Group for the Canterbury Region.
• Wendy and Simon would like the Walking Advocacy group to become part of the Living Streets Aoteroa network. We propose that the group be called Living Streets Aotearoa – Canterbury Branch.
• 11-11-03 ECAN facilitates a walking focus group.  In part to develop principles for their Walking Transport Policy and to make more people aware about the development of the Canterbury Walking Advocacy group.
• Wendy and Simon are gradually connecting with groups in the region to notify them that a Walking Advocacy group is beginning. To date contacts have been made with Residents Associations in the Christchurch region, people who have attended walking meetings sponsored by the regional and local councils and politicians.
• In the New Year we propose a public meeting to ratify the existence of the Walking Advocacy Group, select office bearers and commence a work program to further our aims. We envisage the organization to be run like the Bicycle Advocacy Group Spokes. Apart from a formal AGM each year, most contact will be via Email.
• If you would like to become involved or simply want more information, please contact either Wendy or Simon.

CONTACTS

Wendy Everingham  wendy.everingham [at] livingstreets.org.nz Ph  328 0359

Simon Rutherford   simonrutherford [at] paradise.net.nz  Ph 351 8224

(replace [at] by @ in the email addresses)

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