Getting children out of cars and on their feet is the driving force behind a new push to promote walking to school throughout the year.
Feet First Walk to School Every Week 2009 will run for the entire year, with the aim of encouraging primary school students to walk to school with a caregiver, friend, or on a walking school bus.

The programme will expand on the successes of previous Feet First campaigns, which aimed to boost the number of children walking to and from school by concentrating on a single week.

Building on the interest and support gained over the last three years, 2009 will see Feet First – Walk to School Every Week roll out as a nationwide programme of school-based walking and curriculum support. Students are encouraged to join walking school buses or walk to and from school with their caregivers and friends every week of term time.

Within the programme, educational resources around Active Transport are being developed for use in the school curriculum. The benefits of walking will be related to environmental, social, economic and health issues to encourage students, and their caregivers, to adopt a sustainable and long-term travel behaviour change.

Some great prizes are on offer to encourage schools to participate in the walk to school programme. Promotional resources will be available such as posters, information for parents, charts and certificates.

For further information on Feet First Walk to School Every Week there is an interactive www.feetfirst.govt.nz. Schools can share their walking stories and download comprehensive curriculum resources to enable them to talk about walking in relation to safety, exploring, creativity and saving the planet.

Feet First Walk to School Week 2008

Feet First Walk to School Week was held 3-7 March 2008 and was a huge success. Of the more than 140,000 primary school students from over 440 schools who registered to take part, at least 73%, approximately 100,000 students, walked to school on Walk to School Day, Wednesday 5 March. This is a significant increase from the 41%, approximately 60,000, who walked to school on the Wednesday two weeks before Walk to School Day.

Eight schools achieved 100% on Walk to School Day, with all of their students walking to school on this day. One school, Brightwater School in Tasman District, achieved this all week; all 228 of their students walked to school every day of Feet First Walk to School Week.

The Minister of Transport launched the week by walking to school with students from Lyall Bay School in Wellington. The Prime Minister walked to school with students from Edendale School in Auckland on Friday, March 7th, and a number of sports stars, celebrities and members of parliament got involved in events throughout the week.