Children embrace active travel for Movin’March
Annual campaign promotes movement
The 15th annual Māehe Manawa Ora Movin’March, an initiative encouraging children in Years 0-8 to walk, wheel, or bus to and from school for the month, is under way.
Last year, 38,000 students from 140 schools took part in the free programme run by Greater Wellington.
Regional councillor Yadana Saw said Movin’March is a fun way for students to be a visible part of their neighbourhoods.
“Every day of Movin’March sees more and more kids choosing to walk, bike, scoot or skate through the school gates — you can’t miss them rolling along the footpath.
“With Movin’March, our tamariki get excited to learn more about the benefits of active travel, and before you know it, a month has flown by and suddenly you’ve created new habits and new ways to connect with your school community.
“It’s a great way for kids to build confidence about where they live and how to get around.”
Greater Wellington travel choice adviser Maddy McVie said Movin’March challenges and classroom activities are designed to help tamariki understand why active travel is a positive choice.
“Movin’March aims to connect the dots between travel, climate change, daily movement and wellbeing.
“Every week, Movin’March resources highlight key benefits of active travel, and use tools like the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Te Haerenga o Ngā Tamariki tool to anonymously record travel data and spark conversation.
“Parents are also encouraged to join the fun with activities like the Whānau Photo Competition, where photos posted on the Movin’March Facebook page will put them in the
draw to win scooters and helmets, or family passes to Zealandia or Staglands.”
For the month of March, students will stamp their “walk or wheel passports” for each trip to or from school.
The passports are then entered into a Greater Wellington prize draw at the end of the month for the chance to win one of six $400 My Ride vouchers.
Registered schools receive posters in English, Māori and Pasifika languages, classroom activities and jampacked prize packs filled with coloured pencils, notebooks and beeswax wraps.
Movin’March supports Greater Wellington’s goals to reduce transport-generated carbon emissions by 35 per cent and achieve a 40 per cent increase in active and public transport “mode share” by 2030.
i
There is still time for schools to register for Movin’March. To register, visit movinmarch. com.