AgResearch has taken out the competition during the November iMove Workplaces promotion

AgResearch has taken out the competition during the November iMove Workplaces promotion followed very closely by Fonterra in second place.  

Seventeen workplaces throughout the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Tararua signed up and were encouraged to walk and cycle to and from work, rather than taking the car.  Each workplace kept a record of active trips made by their staff, with one organisation; Blacksheepdesign in Palmerston North, managing to get 100% of their staff involved.  

“By the end of the iMove Workplaces promotion, 241 people had used active transport to get to and from work during the month, up from 104 people during the April promotion earlier this year,” says Sport Manawatu’s iMove Coordinator, Michelle Allan.  

“The number of active transport trips also showed an increase, with 2,800 active trips made during November – an increase of 157% on the number of active trips made in April. That is a huge step towards a healthier lifestyle and a less polluted environment,” explains Mrs Allan.   

AgResearch will be awarded the iMove trophy for the top workplace in overall participation and say they are looking forward to increasing their involvement next year. The iMove promotion was well supported by AgResearch management who donated coffee vouchers for their staff, to supplement the weekly spot prizes provided to workplaces as part of the programme.   

Pathways to Wellbeing, who took out the small business category, managed to get 67% of their employees involved in walking or biking to work everyday, for the entire month.  “We were thrilled to be part of this great initiative and encourage all our staff to become more active,” says Pathways to Wellbeing Manager, Chris Hocken. “Everyone is so busy these days, and finding ways of being active in your workday can be really hard. Walking and cycling to work just makes sense,” says Ms Hocken. 
 
 

iMove Workplaces will run again in April 2010, check out the Sport Manawatu website sportmanawatu.org.nz to get your workplace involved.  See below for some interesting results from the promotion. 

iMove Workplaces promotion, November 2009