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UNLEVEL P L AY I N G F I E L D The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends adults do at least two and a half hours of aerobic activity per week as well as muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. However, a new study has found only 37% of young adults (18-to 24-yearolds) in Aotearoa are achieving both these targets. It also found that women living in disadvantaged areas were 32% less likely to meet the recommendations than women in affluent areas. No differences based on socio-economic status were found for men.
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Wellington College, Wellington Girls’ College, and Wellington East Girls’ College took home gold medals in the 2023 Maadi cup (New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Championships). Held at Lake Karapiro, near Cambridge, the regatta consisted of 52 events with over 2,000 rowers from across the country. It is one of the largest school sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere. Wellington East Girls’ College won the U18 Girls Double Sculls competition by three seconds, just beating second-placed St Peter’s School (Cambridge).
The number of young people joining swimming clubs has taken a nosedive in the past 15 years, dropping by a third. Wellington’s population on the other hand has grown by 21% in that same period. Suggested explanations are that children aren’t learning the basic skills required for them to join clubs, specific distances are set by clubs eg. 50m or one km. And a lack of swimming pools in schools – only 28% of Wellington schools have pools, compared to 58% nationwide.
Wellington’s FTN Motion has created an e-motorcycle with a bike body made from hemp. The special material weighs less than fibreglass, is durable, and can absorb impact. FTN co-founder Luke Sinclair says the idea for the hemp fibre and epoxy resin blend originally came from his surfboard. “I have a board from a Lyall Bay local, which is made from hemp, looks great and performs brilliantly.” The first release of 100 bikes has sold out and there is a waiting list for the next production run in August.
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