National level

Walking and cycling provide significant health benefits by increasing levels of physical activity. These active modes of transport are associated with substantial relative risk reductions (10-55%) across cardio-vascular disease, cancer, and other diseases. Compared to travel by car, active journeys also reduce air pollution and the carbon emissions that are accelerating climate change. In New Zealand there has been a decline in these active modes and research indicates that mode shift from passive to active travel is difficult to achieve. This is a critical challenge in the face of growing evidence that we need to reduce carbon emissions by around 90% by 2050.

Walk2Work Day is part of a Living Streets campaign that aims to encourage people to walk more in their daily lives.  Walking events are held before work in locations close to main walking routes, targeting people who have walked all or part of the way to work.