SPARC Trends in Participation in Sport and Active Leisure 1997 - 2001

SPARC Trends contains the current compiled facts and figures about how active and inactive New Zealanders are in their leisure time and how active they want to be, over the period from 1997 to 2001. It is based on the results of Sport and Recreation New Zealand’s (SPARC) 1997/98, 1998/99 and 2000/01 Sport and Physical Activity Surveys. These national surveys have interviewed over 12,500 New Zealand adults (people aged 18 and over) and over 4,000 young people (5-17 year-olds²), about their participation in physical activity and sport.

People were chosen for the surveys at random from throughout New Zealand. Interviews took place every month during each year that the surveys were carried out to track how active people are from season to season.

Results are shown for all young people, boys and girls, and for different age and ethnicity groups³. For adults, results are discussed for all adults, men and women, different age and ethnicity groups, as well as by available household income and level of educational achievement. In addition significant differences within the Regional Sports Trust areas (see map on page 55 ) are presented, as well as special demographic groups of older adults (aged 55 years or over) and volunteers (people who participate in sport and active leisure in a capacity other than participant, which can include being involved as a coach/instructor, referee/other official, administrator, or parent helper, either paid or unpaid).

This report focuses primarily (but not solely) on trends or changes that are statistically significant – they have been tested at the 95% confidence level, meaning that there is a 95% chance that a real difference exists between the different years in which the surveys were conducted. Accordingly, changes that are referred to as “significant” mean changes that are statistically significant. In a number of cases, there may be relatively large differences that are commented on but which cannot be considered statistically significant due to small samples involved; these should be treated as indicative rather than conclusive.

Information on how the surveys are carried out and how activity levels are measured and defined is described in more detail at the end of this document. There is also a summary of the key results from each of the 1997/98, 1998/99 and 2000/01 surveys, which also identifies the sample sizes for different groups in each survey.

Other fact sheets about participation in active leisure and sport by different demographic groups, and more information about the Sport and Physical Activity Survey, are on the Sport and Recreation New Zealand web site – www.sparc.org.nz. The next New Zealand Sport and Physical Activity Survey is planned for 2005/06, with results available in 2006.

2 Young people’s interviews : Questions about young people's participation were answered by the parent/caregiver who was interviewed, although the young person could help answer the questions if they were present during the interview .

3 Definitions of ethnicity: The ethnicity question in the sport and physical activity survey is based on self-identification with an ethnic group. The four categories were: a New Zealander of Maori or part-Maori descent, a New Zealander of European descent/other European, a person of Pacific Island descent, or another ethnic group. Please note that for ease of readability reference to ethnicity will generally be abbreviated as follows: Maori, European, Pacific, other ethnic group.