WCC 2016 Res 064 - Activity Report

Ministry of Health (MOH) and Sport NZ
Working with Ministry of Health and Sport NZ on joint Ministers’ programme ‘increasing physical activity’ in two ways; a stocktake of physical activity initiatives across government agencies, and working with researchers at Auckland University to develop indicators for physical activity in nature, as part of their broad research for increased physical activity.
The Department of Conservation and MOH are looking at developing a combined work programme over the next 6 months.

Halberg Foundation
The Halberg Foundation, the Department of Conservation and third partner Sensibel have responded to the disabled community’s call for better, richer information in nature spaces. We have developed a website, Accessibel, a bridge to nature, mapping the information everyone needs to explore.

Blind and Low Vision NZ
The Department of Conservation has worked to create the braille and tactile maps for public conservation tracks for the Blind and Low Vision community to use to enable a richer experience when walking in nature. First maps were created and trialled in the field.

NZ Geographic
NZ Geographic are undertaking the nationwide NZ Virtual Reality (NZVR) project. The Department of Conservation has worked alongside NZVR ensuring the best filming outcomes, by navigating administrative processes. The NZVR project provides a 360 degree experience of the natural world, and is about bringing nature to those who cannot access it, thus building empathy and care of our nature. The Ministry of Education now funds access to the full NZ Geo archive for every school in NZ.

The Deaprtment of Conservationare working with NZVR and the Department of Corrections to conduct a trial of bringing nature through Virtual Reality into prisons.