Insights
Can parks make a positive contribution to climate change? Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) are the primary contributor to climate change. Carbon inventories are a way of measuring New Zealand's GHG. Auckland Council undertook an award winning project developing a Carbon Inventory for a Sports Park. Read the fifth in our Insight series and find out what impact parks can play in tackling climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and raising public awareness.
When an emergency occurs and someone is drowning, every millisecond counts! Knowing how brains react under pressure could make the vital difference to how people respond. Fight or flight mode is a common description used in 'Red Zone' training to help people understand how they react to fear and stress. Read the fourth in our Insights series to find out more about Fight or Flight in the Red Zone, with links to relevant research and other information Wellbeing contributes to people's quality of life including good health, increased longevity, resilience to trauma, creativity and job satisfaction. The Government's Wellbeing Framework measures wellbeing using a set of indicators that include cultural identity and activity. It is adapted from the OECD's Better Life Index. The Wellbeing Framework is relevant to providers of recreation. Participation in recreation and leisure can increase a population's capacity and capability and increase the wellbeing of a population. Recreation can "add value" to the measures used in the Framework in all of the five areas covered by the Indicators. Read the third in our Insights series to find out more including an overview of how Recreation adds value, links to relevant research and other information. Sport NZ's Active NZ (2017) survey is the first in four years - and the first ever to include both young people and adults. Its findings provide important insights into the changing landscape of participation in active recreation and sport in New Zealand. People participate in a huge range of activities in varied places and spaces. Gender, age, impairments - both visible or invisible, socio-economic status and ethnicity all affect what activities people choose, how often they participate, and where they recreate. Motivations and barriers vary depending on all or some of these factors. Socio-economic status has a major impact on people's active recreation and sport participation - people in deprived areas have lower levels of participation across all activities. Recreation Aotearoa Insights generated from the Active NZ Survey includes how different groups participate in recreation activities, and some easy to apply tactics to increase participation. Read the second in our Insights series to find out more. New Zealand is an increasingly diverse nation - a rich cultural mix of peoples from the Asia, the Pacific and elsewhere. More than half of our population will be Asian, Māori and Pasifika by 2038, yet it is these groups who are significantly less likely to participate in most forms of outdoor recreation. Asian migrants enjoy day walks and want outdoor recreation activities with family and friends. Māori are more likely to go hunting or fishing in the outdoors than all other groups. NZ Pacific Islanders find cost is a barrier. As Dr Michelle Schaaf said in Wilderness Magazine, "Going mountaineering by yourself may be seen by others as individualistic and selfish - what purpose does it serve?" Our Insights include information about the participation patterns, motivations and barriers of diverse groups, and some easy to apply tactics to increase engagement of different ethnicities in outdoor recreation. Read the first in our Insights series, and to find out more including links to research, podcasts and webinars. Read INSIGHTS: Outdoor recreation in a superdiverse NZ now Working with a network of thought leaders in the sector, the Recreation Aotearoa Insights Team have a programme of publications in development. We welcome your feedback: insights@nzrecreation.org.nzINSIGHTS: Low Carbon Parks
INSIGHTS: Fight or Flight in the Red Zone
INSIGHTS: Living Standards Framework
INSIGHTS: Active NZ
INSIGHTS: Outdoor recreation in a superdiverse NZ
What's next?