Waiariki Institute of Technology’s Staff are Walking the Length of New Zealand

Starting from noon today, more than 200 Waiariki staff members, in teams of 8-12 people, will be competing against workmates and staff from other New Zealand polytechnics in the 10,000 Steps Program developed by New Zealand organisation Vitality Works.

The object is to be the first to walk the equivalent distance from Cape Reinga to Invercargill during the next six weeks – a total of 4,570,658 steps.

For the past several years, Waiariki’s senior management team has actively promoted and supported healthy habits among its staff. Encouragement toward increasing fitness, weight loss and smoking cessation have been ongoing, and fitness-related efforts were further enhanced in early 2010 when the newly built Waiariki Community Recreation Centre was opened on the Rotorua campus. The 10,000 Steps challenge follows on from previous Waiariki health initiatives like boot camps and biggest loser competitions.

ENDS

© Scoop Media