Taieri Beach School pupil Hannah Jaquiery (6) shows
students from High Point University, North Carolina, the
Sports Activate programme in action. Photo by Gregor
For a change yesterday, pupils at Taieri Beach School
turned the tables on usual education practices.
Instead of teachers teaching the pupils, the pupils shared
some of their knowledge with students from High Point
University, in North Carolina.
About 20 health and physical education students from the
North American university are in Dunedin to examine the
health of young New Zealanders and compare it with the health
of young Americans.
High Point University health and physical education associate
professor Martie Bell said since they arrived on Tuesday,
they had already found New Zealand pupils had more access to
exercise and activity than children in the United States.
American schools dedicated about one hour of activity a week
as part of the education curriculum.
However, New Zealand schools provided at least 20 minutes a
''We've noticed how many people go out running in New
Zealand, even when it's raining outside,'' Dr Bell said.
''We've also noted a lot of children on skateboards and
She also praised the Dunedin City Council for establishing
dedicated cycle lanes around the city.
Taieri Beach School pupils spent an hour yesterday
demonstrating the Sports Activate programme with Sport Clutha
co-ordinator Mitch McRae, of Balclutha, so the American
students could study one of New Zealand's more popular
physical education programmes in action.
Following that, the students and Taieri Beach School staff
discussed methods of physical education used in other
countries such as Austria and Singapore.
Today, the group will visit Kavanagh College and tomorrow
they will watch the Highlanders play the Lions at Forsyth
During their Dunedin visit, they will also visit takeaways
and restaurants to compare the nutritional content of their
Dr Bell said the group had found American families -
especially those in lower socio-economic situations - were
overweight because they were using their limited government
subsidies to buy high-fat food, which was less expensive than
fresh and healthy food.
The group will go to Auckland on Tuesday, where it will
continue its research.