FEEDBACK draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2021 Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch - Sporty.co.nz
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8 May 2020 FEEDBACK draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2021 Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch Sport Canterbury is one of New Zealand’s 14 Regional Sports Trusts, with responsibility for Canterbury and the West Coast region, including North-Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury and greater Christchurch. The Sport Canterbury team has in-depth experience in community sport, event management and physical activity. We deliver programmes and events to teachers, coaches, sporting organisations, health professionals and people of all ages across the Canterbury West Coast region. We believe in the vast benefits of play, physical activity and sporting participation for physical and mental health. Sport Canterbury creates opportunities for participation, development and sporting success by developing partnerships in our communities. Healthy Families New Zealand is a large-scale prevention initiative that brings community leadership together in a united effort for better health. It aims to improve people’s health by taking a systems approach to the reduction of risk factors for major health loss and improving equity in health outcomes. Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch, is one of 10 Healthy Families New Zealand locations across Aotearoa. It is funded by the Ministry of Health and works within Sport Canterbury's wider Regional Sports Trust team, to influence systems change in the places we live, learn, work and play. The approach of Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch and all the regions is to utilise a te ao Māori lens, with a focus on equity and groups at increased risk of chronic disease. Healthy Families New Zealand builds on existing action in the community to create an integrated, holistic “prevention system” for good health, focusing on the value of kai, wai, alcohol harm reduction, smokefree environments, wellbeing, physical activity and play. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2021 (2021/22–2030/31). We support the overall direction of this draft and the purpose of the transport system to improve and support people’s wellbeing and the liveability of places and spaces. While we support the strategic priorities, our submission focuses on play streets, physical activity through active transport, and play. These simple practices in and transformations of public space can have considerable positive impact on improving the wellbeing of our tamariki and whānau, now and for future generations. We are happy to provide further input and clarification on any of the points raised and would welcome the opportunity to be involved further in the process. The key contact for this submission is: Dave Jeffrey Manager Healthy Families Ōtautahi Christchurch Email: dave.jeffrey@sportcanterbury.org.nz Tel: 027 201 2039
Introduction
The draft Government Policy Satement (GPS) on Land Transport provides a guide to strategic
investment to support a range of the needs, wants and aspirations of communities with regards to
the transport system that they utilise. Investment is long term and therefore requires innovative
thinking and outcomes.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought out considerable innovation, community connection and
care for whānau, neighbourhoods and communities. It has provided examples of creativity and
explicit needs and wants to support certain health and wellbeing needs. Some of this expression has
occurred within parts of the transport system – such as play on streets, riding scooters and bikes
more freely, and neighbourhood interaction. Innovation within the GPS can support these wants
and needs to continue supporting the future welfare of communities in Aotearoa.
The opportunity to contribute towards the GPS 2021-22-2030/31 can amplify the potential
outcomes for thriving whānau, neighbourhoods and communities.
We support the overall strategic direction of the draft GPS and the priorities of:
• Safety: Developing a transport system where no-one is killed or seriously injured
• Better Travel Options: Providing people with better transport options to access social and
economic opportunities
• Improving Freight Connections: Improving freight connections for economic development
• Climate Change: Developing a low carbon transport system that supports emission
reductions, while improving safety and inclusive access
The priorities of safety, better travel options and climate change are of particular focus in our
sumission.
The Transport Outcomes Framework provides an opportunity to bring to life safe, accessible streets
and roads which encourage the ability for people to connect, participate in physical activity, play,
and contribute towards positive outcomes for their communities.
Inclusive access
- We encourage all processes in Land Transport plans and development to include the voice of
Mana Whenua. Understanding and meeting the needs of Māori and Pasifika, and all New
Zealanders and visitors to the country, must be carefully considered in all planning and
processes. This speaks to the importance of partnership, participation, and protection in
planning and processes.
- Meaningful engagement with communities, truly understanding their needs, wants and
aspirations for land transport, and acting on these (wherever practical) is crucial if a transport
system is to support the welfare of communities.
- Equity to land transport access requires attention. People have different travel needs.
40 per cent of the population of Aotearoa do not have a car, therefore, the current car-centric
transport system is inequitable, discourages independence and active transport options.1,2
Also, short trips that are less than 2kms make up 30% of all journeys by motorists and we need
to make it easier for people to make these trips actively.3
- An enhanced public transportation system can support the needs of those with or without a car.
It can contribute towards daily physical activity needs, encourages social interaction, supports
the shift towards the reduction of carbon emissions, and the equity for inclusive access.
- Safe streets and roads must be provided for, and the promotion of, active travel. The car-centric
transport system dominating society discourages the practice of active travel – walking,
scootering, cycling, and the use of public transport – with a considerbale barrier being safety
fears around machines (vehicles) dominating the roads. All forms of active travel can contribute
towards the physical activity and wellbeing of people, and support the reduction of chronic
disease and obesity issues in our society. This reduces the strain on the public health system,
and in turn, allows more investment to contribute towards community wellbeing through
systems like land transport.
- Inclusive access can mean the opportuinty to play safely. We acknowledge that the transport
system is complex and that Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency is currently reassessing priorities
with a greater emphasis on active transport and modal shift. A key change to enable modal
neutrality is to make the regulation changes required to enable communities to safely rediscover
their streets as places to play, move and recreate.
Healthy and safe people
- This is a real opportunity to encourage innovation. Play streets and play as a tool for wellbeing
for tamariki and people of all ages, as well as promotion of active travel, all contribute towards
the health, safety and wellbeing of communities.
- Active travel practices can support people’s daily physical activity recommendations.4 For this to
occur, however, roads and streets must be safe environments and safe driving must be
promoted.
1 https://www.indexmundi.com/new_zealand/demographics_profile.html
2
https://figure.nz/chart/Ea5wL8XHqa6l3VL2
3 https://www.transport.govt.nz/mot-resources/household-travel-survey/
4 https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/physical-activityHow play streets align to the Transport Outcomes Framework
• Healthy and safe people – play streets are a building block for growing use and comfort with
active travel for both young people and their whānau.
• Resilience and security – play streets directly contribute to community connectedness which is a
fundamental element of community wellbeing and local response to hazards and disruptive
events.
• Inclusive access – play contributes to the physical, mental and emotional development of our
young people, providing the skills, experience and mindsets that enable them to be successful
learners and contributors to society.
• Environmental sustainability – playing on the street and around the neighbourhood contributes
to the Government’s net zero carbon emissions goal by reducing the number of trips by car
being made for ‘destination play’ as play can be achieved closer to home.
Why is play important?
Children have a right to play according to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCROC).5 Play contributes to not only tamariki’s lives but also the wellbeing of their whānau and
community.6
The positive benefits of play include7:
- Being physically active in a fun way that develops fundamental movement skills
- Encouraging self-directed creativity and innovation
- Improving social and emotional connection
- Improving a young person’s understanding of their relationship with the physical environment
- Improving resilience, independence and leadership by determining their own outcomes
- Aiding better decision-making based around elements of challenge and risk
The benefits of play streets include:
Play streets contribute to greater equity
- Regardless of where they live, our tamariki should able to move about freely in fun, healthy and
safe ways. Play streets help build the confidence and ability for children to bike, walk, or scooter
to school, their friend’s place, a park or sports practice across town.
- Our streets have the capability of providing something for everybody. Play streets are a
collaborative process where residents shape their public realm together. It’s about inclusion and
shared community ownership. This also provides a platform for engagement, to gather insights,
and learn about community wants and needs. It can help city designers shape land use, urban
form and street design in a way that reduces car dependency, makes active travel an attractive
travel choice, and reduces emissions from transport.
- Play streets build on the agency, strengths and assets within neighbourhoods and community to
help healthy choice become the more natural which can facilitate behaviour change at scale.
Taking this strengths-based approach has been a successful response to the economic challenges
many neighbourhoods face.
- Play streets result in real time and immediate change, not from a plan that can take a number of
years to implement, but from interventions that work and are driven by the community.
5 https://sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/Sport-New-Zealand-Play-Principles-Nov-2017.pdf
6
International Play Association, 2018
7 https://sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/attachments/Sport-New-Zealand-Play-Principles-Nov-2017.pdfPlay streets contribute to safety
- Safety is the most significant reason why people, especially children, play less and no longer walk
and cycle to school.8,9
- Our transport system needs to protect people, not put them in danger.
- Play streets break down the barriers, perceived and real, between people and make our
communities safer.
- Safer travel will also improve wellbeing and liveability.
Play streets build connectivity
- Highly liveable cities, towns and neighbourhoods are people-friendly places with healthy
environments that improve connectivity, wellbeing and economic prosperity.
- The transport system contributes to liveable cities, towns and neighbourhoods by providing
people with good multi-modal travel options.
- Walkable and cycle friendly neighbourhoods are fundamental for healthy, lively communities,
providing people with the travel options necessary to access places for earning, learning, and
participating in society.
Play streets create healthier people and environments
- The way we transport ourselves and our goods from one place to another should not be
detrimental to the health of our people or the environment.
- To meet our climate change objectives and obligations we need to think globally but act locally.
Safe streets provide the perfect opportunity for people to travel actively and create a healthier
environment in the place where they live, learn, work and play. This will have a significant
positive effect on building awareness, sharing information and taking action.
- The roadside berm is fertile land for everything from healthier living infrastructure, edible
gardens, micro projects, and better landscapes. Reclaiming of public space by community for
community that includes the street and berm through play streets, will enable residents to re-
envisage the street as a whole and provide for a healthier environment and more active
neighbourhood.
- Liberating public spaces like streets, car parks and road reserves for people and play has great
potential to improve the ‘health’ of a street, and the health and wellbeing of our nation.
10 Healthy Street Indicators™
8 https://www.cmnzl.co.nz/assets/sm/4467/61/paper164-Mackie.pdf
9 http://iportal.huttcity.govt.nz/Record/ReadOnly?Tab=3&Uri=5098120Environmental Sustainability
- Environmental sustainability is crucial to support the protection of the environment, the climate,
and the planet. Active travel and play streets contribute towards the Government’s net zero
carbon emissions goal. The less people need to travel by vehicle to access physical activity and
play opportunities, the more positive impact it can have on the wellbeing of people and the
environment.
It should be noted that safe streets and roads with a focus on people’s safety, and a move away
from a car-centric system, can also support people not only accessing play close to their home,
but also local parks and spaces in their wider neighbourhood.
- Accessible and affordable public transport systems, with low to zero emission public transport
vehicles, can play a key role in reducing stress on the environment and the climate.
In addition, the use and growth of public transport can provide opportunities for daily physical
activity needs recommendations (e.g. a walk or wheel to and from a bus stop), encourage
connectivity, and develop a ‘movement’ supporting bigger outcomes.
Resilience and Security
Considerable hazards and threats have been experienced in Aotearoa in recent years by either some
or all people and regions. Many learnings come from these challenges, and the land transport
system can support change for communities as they recover from various threats and hazards This
includes, but is not limited to:
- Ensuring streets and roads are safe for people to connect and recreate on and around.
- Supporting a transport system that links with and empowers local food systems.
- Ensuring roads support economic needs, but not at the sacrifice of people’s safety, need to
connect with one another locally, and play in their own neighbourhood.
Economic Prosperity
We acknowledge the need of the transport system to support economic needs of people and our
nation, and, that it is also connected to an international transport network that contributes towards
the prosperity of this country. This should, however, be carefully balanced with the health, safety
and wellbeing needs of the people, the environment, and the climate.
What next?
We know that the transport system enables and shapes social, environmental and economic
outcomes for Aotearoa. Transport design that prioritises active transport is a major building block of
our prevention system because it puts people first, especially tamariki. Public health crises and a
declared climate change emergency require us to re-think what streets are for and how they are
used. We can achieve greater social capital outcomes from our public investment in land transport
by making the most of our existing transport system and using it in ways that improve our health
and wellbeing. This is real value out of our investment.
How do we begin to effectively share road space? We believe a transit hierarchy that prioritises
active travel and play best begins in the less crowded, low risk streets and that our communities will
benefit from a Council that has the scope to legally and logistically support residents to trial play
streets. Play streets will be an important part of shifting perceptions and behaviour and help toinfluence modal shift, while at the same time improving people’s wellbeing and the livability of their neighbourhood. We encourage revision of the contractor-based traffic management system (TMS) which currently has complicated regulations that limit the ability of our local Road Controlling Authority Traffic Management Coordinator to enable communities to use their streets differently. This means we currently cannot legally close a safe street for just a few hours of play through a simple process. We therefore seek leadership from Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency to simplify the code of practice for temporary traffic management for a safe street closure so that play streets can flourish throughout Aotearoa. We recommend, as a starting point, that Waka Kotahi – NZTA Transport Agency mandate a nation-wide dispensation from TMS requirements for all cul-de-sacs so they can be easily and safely closed for play for the wellbeing of our tamariki, our neighbourhoods, our communities and our future. Ngā mihi nui.
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