The Healthy Urban Atmosphere research programme is New Zealand’s only long-term air quality research programme.
NIWA is leading the programme, which is funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, and is collaborating with a number of other NZ and overseas organisations.
Here we bring you updates from a selection of the research projects underway.
Public Health Consequences and Cost of Climate Change Impacts on Indoor Environments, David Mudarri, The Indoor Environments Division Office of Radiation and Indoor Air U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 January 2010 Read More
June 30th is the deadline for Walking Awards submissions.
We need nominations and all the supporting information in by end of Wednesday June 30th.
We want to know about and publicly acknowledge…
The New Zealand Best Practice Walking Facility
Top Commitment to Walking by a New Zealand Organisation
Best New Zealand Walking Promotion
Best New Zealand Small Walking Project
so check out the webpage and send in your nomination today.
The Golden Foot Walking Awards will be announced at the National Walking conference in early August, and are generously supported by
Greater Wellington Regional Council our Gold sponsor, and our Silver sponsors:
ViaStrada
Auckland City Council
Dunedin City Council
Christchurch City Counci
Podcast: Prof Alistair Woodward – Put me back on my bike (Quicktime movie, 93 MB)
Podcast: Prof Alistair Woodward – Put me back on my bike: questions (Quicktime movie, 47 MB)
A video podcast of the NZC4SC seminar held on the 27/05/10 is now available. Read More
This practical one-day workshop aims to introduce planners to health and wellbeing impact assessment (HIA). Planners will be introduced to the methods and practice of HIA. Planning case studies of completed HIAs are presented and critiqued showing how HIA can help achieve planning goals. Read More
The report, ‘Healthy Places, Healthy Lives: Urban environments and wellbeing’ provides detailed evidence about the strong links between urban design and aspects of poor health that place a large burden on our communities and health services.
Pauline Barnett, PHAC Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and General Practice at Otago University, said, “86% of New Zealanders now live in urban areas. But in these areas, people are walking less, there are more cycle crashes on our roads, and urban air pollutants are contributing to the increasing burden of respiratory illness.”
On Tuesday Evening 16th February 2010 we launched “Sizing up the City; Urban Form and Transport”. The book collects and expands on papers presented at the February 2009 Summer School. It includes the latest research and thinking on sustainable transport and our built environment as well as experiences from councils trying to create more sustainable cities.
“Sizing up the City” book order form
5% More Cyclists Save $200m
just one of the messages in the book was spelt out by local cyclists at the launch linking the book to the BikeWise Challenge “On your Bike” month of February.
from left to right: Andy Foster (WCC), Celia Wade-Brown (WCC),Jude Ball (Frocks on Bikes), Annette King (MP, Labour), Kevin Hague (MP, Greens)
Photo Kevin Hague at book Launch.
Photo Cyclists group
Link to Cycling Advocates Network CAN
On Friday 9th October, Public Health and the NZ Centre for Sustainable Cities hosted the seminar Creating healthy, just and eco-sensitive cities.
Tony Capon – professor with the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at Australian National University and convenes the Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Human Health.
The health, social and environmental consequences of the current pattern of urban development in Australiaprovide a compelling rationale for a re-think of the way we are developing our cities. This seminar will examine the Australian urban health challenge and explore efforts by public health workers, urbanists and others to respond in the interest of the health of people and planet.
Thursday 8 of October 2009 at 5:15pm to 6:15pm
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON
NEW ZEALAND CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Climate: Changes, Causes and Consequences
David Wratt, Chief Scientist (Climate) NIWA
GBLT1, Government Buildings, Pipitea campus, Victoria University
Friday 9 October 2009 12.30-1.30pm
CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Creating healthy, just and eco-sensitive cities
Professor Tony Capon, Australian National University, convenor of the Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Human Health
Nordmeyer Lecture Theatre, University of Otago Wellington, 23A Mein St, Newtown
This seminar was held here at the University on Tuesday 18th August 2009 by Susan Friel and Sue Bidrose.
Where people live affects their health and chances of leading flourishing lives. Urban settlements are now the dominant mode of living. Addressing the urban environment, therefore, poses a major opportunity through which to have major positive impact on national and global health equity. Read More
Dr Guy Coulson (NIWA), Dr Ian Longley (NIWA) and Dr Jo Cavenagh (Landcare Research) presented an exploration of the conflicts and trade-offs between different policies intended to solve different problems. The intention was to start a debate on how these conflicts could be identified and resolved. Joining them was Tim Mallett from Environment Canterbury and Ted Taylor from the Greater Wellington Council. Read More
