29 October 2025

New Zealanders are choosing to walk more and drive less as a way to get around, according to recent research [1] released by the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. In 2024, 82% of people walked for transport at least once a week, a significant increase from the 64% who did so in 2023.

Walking is a cheap, sustainable, and accessible way to get around and be physically active. Walkable communities support people to walk to school and work, to access public transport, and to connect with people and the place they live. Everyone benefits from communities and spaces that encourage walking for transport.

However, while walking can give us so much, we are giving it very little back. The newest government proposal for the Roads of National Significance shows the projects may cost $40-50 billion dollars [2] in total. In comparison walking is severely underfunded [3], especially since the 2024 Government Policy Statement on land transport [4] made it much more difficult for walking improvements to be included as part of wider transport projects.

Tim Jones, President of Living Streets Aotearoa, said:

"For the sake of our communities, for the sake of our health, and for the sake of our climate, New Zealand needs to prioritise people on foot. We know more people are walking, but we also know that barriers to walking are increasing. As a nation, we must invest in making walking accessible, safe, and easy for people to choose as a primary way to get around.”

The 2025 Living Streets Aotearoa Walking Summit [5] will highlight how we can invest in walkable communities and encourage walking for all its benefits. The Summit will be held virtually from 9:30 am on Thursday 6th November, and is accessible to all attendees. At the Summit, speakers will share best practice for working with communities and prioritising pedestrians, describe guidance and policy that make our streets safer for walking, showcase planning and design innovations, explore the health benefits of creating walkable streets, and share stories of advocacy and community-led campaigns.

Register and join the conversation at the 2025 Walking Summit and learn about real examples of policy, design and action that prioritise people on foot.

References:

1. NZTA Walking, Cycling and Micromobility 2024 Report. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/understanding-attitudes-and-perceptions-of-cycling-and-walking/NZTA-walking-cycling-and-micromobility-2024-report.pdf
2. NZTA Roads of National Significance .https://nzta.govt.nz/planning-and-investment/roads-of-national-significance
3. Newsroom. Dead end for cycle and walking paths in new transport budget. https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/03/06/dead-end-for-cycle-and-walking-paths-in-new-transport-budget/
4. New Zealand Government. Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024. https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Government-Policy-Statement-on-land-transport-2024-FINAL.pdf
5. Living Streets Aotearoa. Walking Summit 2025. https://www.livingstreets.org.nz/node/4978

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