A survey of New Zealand's Territorial Local Authorities' policies, plans and programs promoting physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate New Zealand's Territorial Local Authorities' (TLAs') policies and plans promoting physical activity.


METHODS
Postal survey of senior planners in New Zealand's TLAs, undertaken 2004/05.


RESULTS
Only 59% of respondents reported that their TLA had an overall plan or policy for physical activity promotion. Most reported policies and plans for open spaces (82%), parks (95%) and recreational facilities (89%). Those for pedestrian pathways were common (70%), but cycle lanes (56%) and shared use pathways (57%) were less so. Rural TLAs and those with more deprivation were less likely to have an overall policy (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.98) or direct involvement in promotion (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Considerable scope exists for New Zealand's TLAs, especially those that are largely rural, low growth and with greater deprivation, to promote physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity policy development and planning should be given greater emphasis; those with more deprivation and isolation need additional resources to avoid increasing inequalities. Closer engagement between TLAs and population health agencies, transport and education sectors would accelerate progress. Policy monitoring, such as we have described, is one way of tracking such progress.
Bullen
Chris
C
School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand. c.bullen@ctru.auckland.ac.nz
Lyne
Mark
M
D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D009520:New Zealand; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires