Speech at Walk2Work Day 2009

Good morning and thank you all for making the effort to set your alarms a little earlier today to walk to work today and attend this morning's event.

I would also like to acknowledge the work of Living Streets Aotearoa in organising this day, particularly Living Streets President Celia Wade-Brown.

You must be delighted that in just two years this event has grown from a single event here in Wellington to 12 events around the country, including the West Coast and Dunedin through to Taupo, the Bay of Plenty and Auckland.

With this early success, plans to make Walk 2 Work Day a full national event by 2010 is well on track.

Congratulations for seeing this vision through to the point you are at today. If subsequent events are as enjoyable as this, the future of Walk2Work Day is very healthy.

So it's encouraging to see the number of people here this morning.

However, often the pace of life is such that we frequently feel too short of time to walk to work, and instead get on the bus or train or jump in the car.

While walking makes up 12 percent of total time travelled, and New Zealanders spend more than 200 million hours per year walking, when it comes to travelling to work most people still prefer to drive.

In fact 85 percent of people travel to work by car, compared to 5 percent who use public transport and 9 percent who walk or cycle.

It's also interesting to note that people aged 25 - 64, the age bracket where work and family commitments tend to grow, are the most car-dependent. I must admit, one of the things I like about living in Wellington for part of the week is that I can walk to and from work - it's not far but it's a good opportunity to stretch my legs and clear my head.

 I'm the first to advocate transport solutions that realistically reflect the travel choices New Zealanders have when getting from A to B. So I will acknowledge that walking to work won't be achievable for everyone.   The 20km hike from my Auckland home to the central city, for example, is just a tad too far.

But when it can be managed, either all or part of the way, walking offers a number of benefits - health, economic and environmental.

The most obvious of course, is the daily dose of exercise and head space walking to work offers.

It is one of the most accessible forms of exercise for improving fitness, and it's also important to realise that you don't have to do much to reap the benefits. According to the World Health Organisation, a total of 30 minutes brisk walking most days of the week, even if carried out in 10-15 minute stretches as part of your journey to work is effective in providing these health benefits. Even if it's getting off the bus a few stops earlier, or driving the car to the edge of town and walking the rest of the way in. 

The government is also committed to encouraging active modes of transport such as walking and cycling. In 2008/2009 $18 million has been allocated through the National Land Transport Fund for walking and cycling and over the next three years, we'll invest $51 million in this area.

In addition to this, the Prime Minister has asked his officials to investigate a cycleway the length of the country.  This is an exciting idea and I know you will be taking a keen interest in how it develops.

In closing I would like to again thank Living Streets Aotearoa and organisers of today's events here in Wellington and around the country for the huge effort you have put in.

I wish you every success for the future and look forward to attending again.

Thank you.