Napier school students cheered on Prime Minister Helen Clark and New Zealand Triathlete, Shanelle Barrett, (pictured) as they jumped into the hot seat yesterday (Wednesday 13 November 2002) to launch the 11th Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon.
The Prime Minister joined Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon mentors Shanelle, and former Silver Fern, Debbie Matoe to help officially launch the 2003 Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon and Mentor Programme and to kick start the charge in getting kiwi kids up and active.
Sanitarium Health Food Company Senior Product Manager, Jeremy Dixon, said registrations for the 2003 Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon were already being taken, with organisers expecting an increase in numbers from the 11,400 kiwi kids who took part in the 2002 event.
"The Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon is a hugely popular event that has become an annual highlight on the calendar of thousands of New Zealand youngsters."
This year, the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon will again be held in seven centres throughout New Zealand including Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Mosgiel, Nelson and Taupo. The event is so popular that organisers have, for the first time, planned two Tryathlons in Auckland, due to overwhelming participant numbers in previous years.
"The Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon is a fun event aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of New Zealand children, through promoting the importance of regular exercise, coupled with a nutritious balanced diet.
"Any child between the ages of 8-15 years can enter the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon, regardless of ability," said Mr Dixon.
Entry forms are printed on the inside of special Tryathlon packs of Weet-Bix and available on www.kiwikids.co.nz, at Avanti bike stores or through school PE teachers at primary and intermediate schools.
Entries must be accompanied by three Tryathlon tokens from specially marked Weet-Bix packs, however, any registrations received before Friday 20 December do not require tokens.
Participants can enter on their own - which means they swim, bike and run (in that order) - or as part of a team, which means they complete one or two of the swim, bike or run legs of the event.
"Every child is a winner - it's not about coming first, it's about getting out, having a go and achieving a personal best. Therefore, every tryathlete gets a medal on the day, and a certificate in the post after the event," said Mr Dixon.
Sanitarium manages and funds the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon which is endorsed by Triathlon New Zealand. Every participant who enters the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon will automatically receive a junior membership to Triathlon New Zealand.
Get Active, 2003
A range of New Zealand’s top sports-people will be getting kiwi kids up and active in 2003, as mentors in the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Mentor Programme.
Some of the high profile mentors involved in the programme include former All Black, Mark Robinson, former Silver Fern, Debbie Matoe, and New Zealand triathlete, Shanelle Barrett.
Sanitarium Health Food Company Senior Product Manager, Jeremy Dixon, said the mentor programme was aimed at helping to address the growing problem of childhood inactivity in New Zealand, as well as increasing the confidence levels of participants and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
"The Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Mentor Programme encourages children and their families to get active, by providing them with support and encouragement from sports people throughout New Zealand in a fun environment.
"This year, we have widened the Mentor Programme to include groups in Napier and Invercargill, and are also working closely with Te Hotu Manawa Mäori to get more tamäriki Mäori and their whanau involved in the Mentor Programme and Tryathlon."
Each mentor will meet with their group of up to six children, once a week for a period of six weeks leading up to the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon events for their area.
Participants follow a balanced eating plan and take part in a fun training programme involving swimming, running, cycling and other activities. At the end of the training programme, participants are encouraged to enter the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon either as an individual or as part of a team.
Throughout the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Mentor Programme parents/caregivers and families are asked to give their full support to participants by joining them in family activities, such as going for a walk after dinner, and cutting down on fast food. After the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon, the participants are encouraged to continue with their training schedules and healthy eating habits.
Sanitarium manages and funds the programme, and also provide support to mentors, the kids and their families, in the form of basic training schedules, nutrition advice and ongoing counsel, if required.
Triathlon New Zealand also supports the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Mentor Programme, providing many of the mentors as well as assistance and advice throughout the programme.
New Zealand triathlete, Shanelle Barrett, is returning to the mentor programme for her third year and is looking forward to again getting involved with the kids.
"Many of the kids I’ve mentored still keep in touch with me, which is great because one of the biggest things for me is knowing what a big difference I have made in their lives.
"It’s good for them to see that I’m really just a normal person that they can come to for help and support."
A total of 16 mentors will work with over 55 children in the 2003 Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Mentor Programme, with plans to grow the programme even further as it continues.
Childhood Inactivity – Facts and Figures
1- In Auckland and Wellington 37% of children aged 5-17 are driven to school, with more than half living less than 2 km away.
2- Over 200,000 young people are not active for the minimum time recommended for a healthy lifestyle (about 30 minutes per day).
3- As many as 2600 people per year are estimated to have died prematurely in New Zealand because of lack of physical activity.
4- A study of 2273 Auckland schoolchildren aged 5-10 years found that, in all, 14.3% of children were obese. Five years ago the direct health care costs of obesity was estimated to be $135 million and as more people become obese the costs will rise. Increasing physical activity is a key preventative approach to reduce the burden of disease.
5- Among school-age children and young people, physical activity levels decline significantly after ages 16-17.
6- Active people face less risk of cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, diabetes, obesity and mental illness.
7- Physical inactivity is second to smoking as a modifiable risk factor for poor health.
9- Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower mortality rates for both older and younger adults.
9- By international standards New Zealand is an active nation. But we can’t afford to be complacent as inactivity and obesity (which is related to inactivity) are on the increase in the western world. In parts of New Zealand the number of people who are obese or overweight is increasing.
Napier school students cheered on Prime Minister Helen Clark and New Zealand Triathlete, Shanelle Barrett, (pictured) as they jumped into the hot seat yesterday (Wednesday 13 November 2002) to launch the 11th Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon.