September 05, 2008

HEHA Bikes Get West Coast District Health Board Staff Active

Staff at the West Coast DHB recently got a helping hand to get them more physically active with the purchase of five new HEHA-branded bikes through the Healthy Eating - Healthy Action (HEHA) Programme.

Kim Sinclair, HEHA Manager explains "We thought this would be an excellent way to 'walk the talk' and provide staff with a healthy and low-cost alternative to using the car for commuting to meetings and appointments around the district. Bikes have been provided to departments at Grey Base Hospital, Hokitika Health Centre and the HEHA & Carelink Teams that are based at the Brick Building in town".

With rising fuel costs, recognition that healthy employees are happy employees, and the drive towards achieving sustainability, corporate cycle fleets are becoming increasingly popular in workplaces both overseas and in NZ. The HEHA team is proud to make this innovative facility available to West Coast DHB staff.

The new bikes signal the DHB's move towards becoming a cycle friendly employer. "Instead of using a work car to attend a meeting down town (about two kilometres from Grey Base Hospital) we are encouraging staff to grab a bike and cycle to town".

"Whether it is about beating the obesity epidemic or doing something effective about reducing our greenhouse gas emissions or fossil fuel dependency, one of the simplest answers is often sitting quietly in someone's garage - the humble bicycle."

For more information please contact

Bryan Jamieson
Community Liaison Officer
West Coast DHB
PO Box 387
Greymouth 7840
Phone (DDI): (03) 769-7665
Mobile: 027 245-9595
Email: