Speaker: Alistair Woodward, School of Population Health, University of Auckland

Date: Thursday 22 February 2024, 5:30pm

Venue: Napier Sailing Club, 63 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier

Admission: Gold coin donation

How we get around is an issue for everyone, and there is no shortage of opinions on what works and what doesn’t. Some claim those who want to change things are engaged in a ‘war on cars’. Is this true? Come to this talk and find out. 

At present, in New Zealand, the burden of illness and injury caused by transport is probably as large as the effects of tobacco, or obesity. But transport systems, well done, can be health-improving.

Alistair Woodward will draw on 40 years of studying health and transport to describe the progress we have made, and will share his thoughts on what improvements lie ahead.

Professor Alistair is an epidemiologist and public health doctor who was born and raised in Ōtautahi Christchurch. He was Head of the School of Population Health at Auckland from 2004-2012 and previously led the departments of public health at the University of Otago Wellington, and the University of Adelaide. Ever since his years as a junior hospital doctor he has been curious about the influence of environmental factors on human health, since here, it often seemed, is an excellent opportunity to prevent disease and injury. His first position after postgraduate training in the UK was in a Road Accident Research Unit, and since then he has worked on many aspects of transport and health. Recently his research has focussed on environmental health issues in China; climate change impacts in the Pacific; the effects of street changes on health and safety; pathways to sustainable, healthy and fair transport systems; and the future of the bicycle.