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Leading Maori sports people Casey Kopua from the Silver Ferns and Hurricane Otere Black were on hand at Pinehaven School in Upper Hutt yesterday for the launch of a new initiative to encourage kids to play sport as a way to counter obesity.
Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman says the government is investing $8 million over four years in Play.sport, which is one of 22 initiatives in its Childhood Obesity Plan.
He says being overweight or obese is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable risk to health in New Zealand within the next 12 months,” says Dr Coleman.
Play.sport aims to improve the quality and quantity of physical education and sport in schools and communities.
Last month Dr Coleman ruled out taxing sugar-laden products or putting on warning labels, as dentists and public health specialists have advocated.
He says exercise and education should be the focus in efforts to reduce obesity.
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