Sunday, February 05, 2012
   
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Walk to Work Day

On March 19, Charles put on his walking shoes and hit the streets to celebrate Wellington’s first ever Walk to Work Day. He joined the Minister of Transport, Annette King, on a walk from his home in Wellington’s Oriental Bay to Frank Kitts Park.

This event was not a one-off for Charles, however, who is proud to be one of the thousands of kiwis who walk regularly between work and home.

Walking to work has many advantages. In addition to the health, economic and environmental benefits associated with it, for short trips it is often quicker to go by foot than it is to drive, and you don’t get stuck in the traffic! You also reduce your carbon footprint.

Unfortunately, despite these benefits, more thank half the travel time of New Zealanders is spent driving. This is a huge amount compared to the average 12 per cent spent walking and 5 per cent spend using public transport.

By encouraging initiatives such as the Walk to Work Day and putting in place various other strategies, the Government hopes to increase the number of people in New Zealand who walk and cycle from 17 per cent to 30 per cent of total trips in urban areas.

Charles is pictured at the conclusion of the walk, where he and Annette King met up with Grant Robertson, Labour candidate for Wellington Central; Hon. Marian Hobbs, the current Labour MP for Wellington Central, and Annette King, the MP for Rongotai and Minister of Justice and Transport.
Labour Spokesperson for Justice
Labour Spokesperson for the Environment

Labour List MP Based in Ohariu
Authorised by Charles Chauvel, 103 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville