Health Minister Praises 35,000-Strong Dunedin Fitness Walk

Chris Bishop and Shane Reti show their enthusiasm for Dunedin’s big fitness event

PRESS RELEASE FROM OFFICE OF HON SHANE RETI, MINISTER OF HEALTH

The Minister of Health, Dr Shane Reti, has applauded the efforts of 35,000 New Zealanders who took part in a fitness walk in Dunedin on Saturday.

The participants in the organised fitness event walked from the Dental School to the Octagon in what Dr Reti described as an ‘inspiring display of the importance of low-impact cardio-vascular activity’.

‘As a medical doctor myself, I know that healthcare starts with the individual taking personal responsibility. It’s great to see Kiwis of all ages and abilities getting off the couch and active.’

Participants in Dunedin’s fun fitness walk

‘Regularly raising people’s heart-rates is something this government is doing as much as it can to encourage, and in Dunedin on Saturday we really could see those efforts paying off. Some of those people’s heart-rates looked very elevated indeed!’

Dr Reti also praised the ingenious way some of the participants were able to maximise their health outcomes by incorporating other exercises into the walk.

‘People had brought things to hold up in the air and wave about, which is an excellent way to improve core and upper body strength.’