News

Pre-event press release

Walking to work is a great way to get out in the fresh air, have an enjoyable trip to work, and incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

On the 10^th of March thousands of people across New Zealand will leave their cars at home and Walk2Work with friends, family and colleagues. Workers will be able to call in to their local Walk2Work event between 7 and 9am, to register, collect their complimentary breakfast snack, be inspired by local speakers, and win spot prizes.

On the 10^th of March 2010, thousands of people across New Zealand will leave their cars at home and Walk2Work with friends, family and colleagues.

Call for abstracts now open for the 4th New Zealand Walking conference

Living Streets Aotearoa is running the 4th New Zealand Conference on walking and liveable communities on 2/3 August 2010 in Wellington. The focus of this conference is on economic value, with the theme: “Dollars and Sense of Walking; creating liveable communities”.

People around the world will be enjoying freedom on foot on international carfree day, September 22^nd.

“People talk about cars giving people freedom – but what’s free about sitting in queues of cars belching fumes?”  asks Liz Thomas, director of pedestrian organization Living Streets Aotearoa.

Registrations have now opened for the Australasian Transport Research Forum Conference being held in Auckland late this year.

The theme of the conference is "Interconnecting transport performance, the economy and the environment".

The website (www.atrf2009.co.nz) has the current programme and there are some good keynote speakers.

The closing date for the Golden Foot Awards is fast approaching!

These are new national walking awards organised by Living Streets Aotearoa.  The closing date is 19th June, so make sure you get your nominations in quickly.

The awards will showcase walking innovations and facilitate the sharing of new ideas across the country.  The awards will be presented in a high profile ceremony in Wellington Council chambers on 24th July. 

“A national cycle network is an excellent idea and would be used by walkers as well as cyclists when fully developed” says walking advocate and president of Living Street Aotearoa, Celia Wade-Brown.

The Prime Minister has announced that the government will invest $50 million over the next three years in a national cycleway consisting of a series of “great rides”, with the long term goal of creating a network that links these experiences together.

This guide sets out ways to improve New Zealand’s walking environment. It outlines a process for deciding on the type of provision that should be made for pedestrians and provides design advice and standards. Learn more and access the completed guide in PDF format at: Pedestrian planning and desgn guide home page.

At the end of a very successful NZ Walking conference, Living Street Aotearoa members expressed dismay at the lack of funding announced in the Government Policy Statement committed to improving the walking environment.

Walking has been overlooked in favour of Think Big transport projects for too long.

"We are under-whelmed by the targets and funding" Ms Wade-Brown said in a closing address to the delegates in Auckland.