Report Content
Based on information collected through the 2007/08 Active NZ Survey, this report provides an overview of physical activity behaviours among adults (aged 16 years and over) living in the Southland region, in particular, their level of involvement with sport and recreation as participants and volunteers and their overall level of physical activity. The findings for the Southland region are also compared with the national profile for sport, recreation and physical activity in this report.
Key Findings
Compared with New Zealand adults, a similar percentage of adults in the Southland region:
- participated in at least one sport or recreation activity per week (New Zealand: 79%; Southland: 80%) and per year (New Zealand: 96%; Southland: 97%);
- were members of clubs or centres in order to take part in sport and recreation activities (New Zealand: 35%; Southland: 37%); and
- achieved the national physical activity guideline by undertaking 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity physical activity on at least five days out of seven (New Zealand: 48%; Southland: 53%).
Adults in the Southland region were significantly more likely than New Zealand adults to:
- have participated in at least one organised competition or event per year (New Zealand: 37%; Southland: 51%);
- have received instruction from a coach, instructor, teacher or trainer to help improve their performance (New Zealand: 40%; Southland: 49%); and
- have volunteered for a sport or recreation activity (New Zealand: 25%; Southland: 37%).
In the Southland region:
- walking, gardening and cycling were, in that order, the three most popular sport and recreation activities;
- snowsports was on the 10 most popular activities list for adults in the Southland region, but not on the list for New Zealand adults;
- snowsports and hunting were on the 10 most popular activities list for men in the Southland region, but not on the list for New Zealand men;
- tramping was on the 10 most popular activities list for women in the Southland region, but not on the list for New Zealand women;
- men were significantly more likely than women in the Southland region to have been members of a club or centre in order to take part in sport and recreation activities (Men: 47%; Women: 29%); and
- men were significantly more likely than women in the Southland region to have participated in an organised competition or event per year (Men: 61%; Women: 43%).