June 14, 2005

Get moving in North Shore City

The opportunities to get up and get moving in North Shore City just increased - with the local council adopting the Auckland Regional Physical Activity and Sport Strategy.

The Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) initiative - which is the result of a collaborative effort by councils across the region - and will work in with the city's own strategies, aims to improve people's lifestyles through physical activity and sport.

Community services and parks committee chairperson, Margaret Miles, says working together will result in more chances for the community to get active.

"Rather than duplicating our effort to support physical activity and sport, we can co-ordinate our support and programmes to benefit everyone," she says.

The final version of the Auckland Regional Physical Activity and Sport Strategy was presented to the committee last week, which adopted it.

SPARC will put $1m over five years into implementing the strategy, and local authorities and regional sports trust have matched that. North Shore City Council's contribution will be $20,000.

"It's an investment in our people. The health benefits of physical activity and sport are well known but participation, particularly by young people, is declining," says Councillor Miles.

"A regional strategy also helps us plan our own programmes and initiatives for the future."

ENDS

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