Tauranga scores high on health habits

Tauranga is a city of moderate drinkers who sleep a lot and lead New Zealand in striking the right balance between work and leisure.
A nationwide survey by Southern Cross Healthcare of 1000 New Zealanders found that not only was Tauranga one of the country's healthiest cities, eating the least takeaways, its residents had the best work/life balance.
It was also a sober city, with 42 per cent saying they did not drink any alcohol in an average week and only one in six residents knocking back more than 10 drinks a week.
Nearly half the city's residents said they had achieved the right work/life balance, with 17 per cent saying they spent too much time at work.
The top concern of Tauranga people was rising crime, striking a chord with 54 per cent of those surveyed.
Other concerns included job security, 26 per cent, and the country's leadership, 31 per cent.
Southern Cross CEO Dr Ian McPherson said it was great to see Tauranga residents enjoyed such good health and wellbeing.
"They seem to have diet, sleep and alcohol consumption very well managed."
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby was not surprised Tauranga was one of New Zealand's most chilled-out places to live. Its laid-back attitude was helped by its weather and wonderful natural environment of beaches, harbour and estuaries.
Another contributing factor was the city getting on top of most of its roading problems. "If there is one thing that stresses people out, it's roading."
The council had also put a lot of effort into establishing a good network of walkways in recognition that walking one of the country's most popular forms of recreation, he said.
Aucklanders were second-only to Christchurch for stress levels, with Christchurch understandably the most stressed from its earthquakes.
The survey concluded that Wellingtonians were the least stressed but the biggest drinkers, Dunedin enjoyed a "healthy glow" and Hamiltonians enjoyed low stress but could improve on their diet and alcohol intake.
Tauranga's eating habits were some of the healthiest in the country, with 26 per cent getting the right daily intake of five plus vegetables and fruit servings. Residents ate the least number of takeaways, with only 18 per cent eating fast food twice or more per week.
Almost two in every three New Zealanders felt moderately or generally stressed. Tauranga and Dunedin residents followed closely behind Wellingtonians as the least stressed. However Wellingtonians were the most worried about the All Blacks ability to win the Rugby World Cup.
Findings
Other interesting survey conclusions for Tauranga:
* Weight: 45 per cent viewed their weight as above ideal with only 5 per cent not seeing it has a health problem.
* Visits to the doctor: 47 per cent visited their GP three or more times a year.
* Sleep: 12 per cent slept more than nine hours a night. Got the most sleep out of the six cities.
* Exercise: 53 per cent exercised to lose weight and improve health.
* Stress: 24 per cent experienced high stress levels.
* Smoking: 20 per cent were smokers.
Tauranga a healthy choice for fitness guru
Former Aucklander Matt Adsett knows exactly why Tauranga offers such a superior lifestyle - it has 500 more sun hours than Auckland, old fashioned community values and good fruit and vegetables.
Although surprised that 42 per cent of those surveyed by Southern Cross did not drink any alcohol in an average week, a lot of the conclusions rang true with the manager of Bodyzone fitness club.
Mr Adsett arrived in Tauranga five years ago from a typical Auckland scenario of spending three hours in traffic every day getting to and from work.
Now it takes 15 minutes to get to the gym from his home in Papamoa where the neighbourhood is characterised by good manners, good values and everyone knowing each other by name.
"It is family orientated and more like old New Zealand," Mr Adsett said. Although he agrees with the general finding of the survey that Tauranga had a good work/life balance, he still sees many people who work too much, particularly in the corporate sector.
In the CBD everyone was working harder to keeps their jobs: "Without a doubt I see it all the time."
Mr Adsett has seen a steadily growing awareness of the importance of diet and lifestyle to combat New Zealand's big killers, cancer and heart disease. "It is all about reducing the risk."
And although Tauranga does not appear to have high stress levels, he links some of the stress in the city with high housing costs compared with wages.
And that stress often converts to higher alcohol intake: "I think a lot of people drink too much.
"Stress in the corporates is up hugely."