• Satisfaction with leisure time
• Participation in physical activity
• Participation in cultural and arts activities

Participation in physical activity

Relevance

Participation in physical activity is a source of enjoyment and has positive benefits for people’s physical and mental health. It can also contribute to personal growth and development and is a good way to meet new people.

Current level

Seventy-two percent of adults aged 15 years and over were reported to be sufficiently active in 2006. This was similar to the figure in 2005 (71 percent). Nearly half (46 percent) were rated as highly active.  

Table L2.1 Activity level (%) of adults, by sex, 2006

Source: Sport and Recreation New Zealand (2007)

Sex differences

Men were more likely than women to be sufficiently active in 2006. Seventy-six percent of men did at least 2.5 hours and five or more sessions of physical activity a week, compared to 67 percent of women. Men were also much more likely to be highly active (53 percent) compared with women (39 percent). 

Age differences

Activity levels tend to decline with age. In 2006, the percentage of people categorised as either sufficiently active or highly active was highest for 15–24 year olds (84 percent), followed by those aged 25–34 years (74 percent), those in the 35–49 and 50–64 years age groups (both 70 percent) and those aged 65–74 (64 percent). Those aged 75 years and over had the lowest activity rate (56 percent).

Ethnic differences

There was some variation in the activity levels of the main ethnic groups. In 2006, the percentage of people categorised as either sufficiently active or highly active was highest for adults of European ethnicity (74 percent) followed by Māori (72 percent), Pacific peoples (66 percent) and Asian (65 percent) adults. Māori and Pacific peoples were the most likely to be highly active, with more than half of each ethnic group in this category (54 percent and 51 percent respectively).

Table L2.2 Activity level (%) of adults, by ethnicity, 2006

Source: Sport and Recreation New Zealand (2007)

Socio-economic differences

Activity levels rise with household income. People living in households with an annual household income (adjusted for the number of children and adults in the household) of $20,000 or less had the lowest levels of activity, with 66 percent being sufficiently active or highly active. Those in the top two income brackets of $70,001 and over and $50,001–$70,000 had the highest levels of activity (77 percent and 76 percent respectively). These two groups were also the most likely to be highly active (54 percent and 49 percent respectively). 

Table L2.3 Activity level (%) of adults, by adjusted household income, 2006

Source: Sport and Recreation New Zealand (2007)

Regional differences

Activity levels were lower in the seven local authorities in the Auckland area (68 percent) than in the rest of New Zealand (74 percent). People in the South Island reported higher activity levels (76 percent) than people in either the central or southern North Island (both 72 percent). See Appendix 2 for local authorities included in each region.