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Toi Tangata Encourages Māori to Get on Their Bikes and Take on the Aotearoa Bike Challenge 2018

Wednesday 31 January 2018
For immediate release

Toi Tangata is taking up the wero (challenge) and getting on their bikes for the Aotearoa Bike Challenge and is encouraging more Māori and Māori organisations to join them. This free, month-long event runs from 1-28 February 2018 and aims to get more people throughout Aotearoa cycling. The wero, led by NZ Transport Agency, is an awesome kaupapa to encourage kaimahi (staff) within their organisation to sign up and get on their bikes.

During their first year, Toi Tangata was the winner of the Auckland Transport non-profit category of the Aotearoa Bike Challenge, with an impressive 76% participation and they plan to improve on those stats, with everyone from the CE, to kaimahi, to the cleaner taking part.

“The Auckland Transport’s Bike Challenge 2017 was an opportunity to focus on our own team and was the first time Toi Tangata had signed up to do it together. We’re excited to be doing it again this year but even bigger and better,” says Megan Tunks, Toi Tangata Chief Executive.

“Although we are already a pretty active team and like to hold staff gatherings that have a physical focus, it is a great opportunity for those who don’t usually bike to get out there and give it a go.”

For Toi Tangata, supporting opportunities for staff and communities to create safe environments (with lots of laughter) and getting them back on a bike is key.______ It’s all about getting active and getting bums on bikes.

“When Toi Tangata takes on a challenge, we all take it on!” says Kennedy Mahe, Toi Tangata Cleaner.

“This year we hope to ‘clean up’ the competition again but it would be awesome to see more Māori out there on their bikes too.”

Although there can be barriers when it comes to cycling, such as the lack of bike ownership, Toi Tangata maintains there are ways around it, whether people borrow or hunt down second hand bikes or good deals.

“Last year, not everyone in our team had a bike so there was a little bit of sharing going on to make sure everybody could participate, but the environment at Toi Tangata is such that it has influenced many of the staff to get into riding bikes,” says Matire Seath, Toi Tangata Business and Finance Lead.

The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is based on the global Love to Ride platform which was brought to New Zealand by the NZ Transport Agency as part of the Government’s commitment to making cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice for New Zealanders.

The first, national Aotearoa Bike Challenge successfully encouraged more Kiwis to cycle, with more than 14,000 people from over 1000 organisations taking part, including almost 4000 new riders.

Hop on your bike during the month of February to get involved and get active! There are lots of prizes to be won including bike gear, restaurant vouchers and movie tickets and more.

To join Toi Tangata, sign up at Aotearoa Bike Challenge https://www.lovetoride.net/nz

ENDS