The value of blue and green spaces
The value of blue and green spaces
How nature supports physical activity, hauora (health and wellbeing) and development for young people.
As more of us live in cities and spend time online, nature is becoming even more important for our hauora. Blue and green spaces – like parks, bush and beaches – offer enriching opportunities for physical activity, connection and wellbeing that urban environments often can’t match.
What the research tells us
Our new report, The Value of Blue and Green Spaces brings together findings from national and international research published in peer-reviewed journals and case studies. It shows that being active in nature:
- inspires people to get active and can lead to longer and more intense activity
- supports the hauora of tamariki and rangatahi
- positively influences mental and social development for tamariki and rangatahi.
The report also highlights that:
- for Māori, physical activity in te taiao (the natural world) supports cultural connection and wellbeing.
- there are actions we can take to ensure all tamariki and rangatahi benefit from being active in nature.
| 5 minutes |
| of being active in nature is all it takes to feel the positive effects on your mental health. |
These insights show that nature is essential to quality physical activity experiences for young people in Aotearoa. To help tamariki and rangatahi be active, healthy and connected, we need to protect and promote our natural environments.
Who is this report for?
This report is for anybody who wants to understand or champion the value of nature in supporting physical activity and the hauora of tamariki and rangatahi. This might include:
- those who provide and maintain blue and green spaces
- people working with tamariki and rangatahi who want to incorporate physical activity in blue and green spaces into their mahi
- advocates for quality physical activity opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi
- providers of outdoor experiences for tamariki and rangatahi.
From insight to action
Sport NZ is dedicated to maintaining and improving the physical activity levels of tamariki and rangatahi, especially those who are less active. This report offers practical actions to help all young people be active in nature.
Together, through awareness and collaboration, we can support and nurture the hauora of young people through better opportunities for physical activity in blue and green spaces.
