MEDIA RELEASE

October 10 2008

Rodney is New Zealand’s healthiest spot to live

Rodney District Council Mayor Penny Webster says she is not surprised by news that the district has been identified as the country’s healthiest place to live.

Rodney has topped a list of the 10 healthiest places to live in New Zealand, in a report commissioned by the ASB Bank.

The Top Spots report shows Rodney residents are the most physically active, have a healthy body weight and residents claim they seldom, if ever, experience high levels of stress.

Wellington came second followed by Auckland's North Shore, Christchurch, Dunedin and Nelson. The country’s 17 largest cities and district health boards were surveyed on a wide range of points. They included life expectancy, smoking, stress levels, alcohol consumption and unemployment levels.

Mrs Webster says access to clean, beautiful beaches, as well as an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables around the region will only add to Rodney’s reputation as a healthy top spot.

Researchers in the survey awarded or deducted points based on 12 factors including: life expectancy, GPs per capita, unemployment levels, air pollution perception and stress levels.

“Rodney and second placed Wellington were clear leaders throughout the study, but Rodney was in a league of its own in the final points analysis,” the report says.

“This survey just confirms what Rodney residents already know,” Mayor Webster added. “That our district is a fantastic place to work, play and live.”

ENDS

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