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This study measures pedestrian walking speeds in New Zealand to estimate the influences on mean walking speeds as these concern urban planning and pedestrian facility design. Research was conducted using field observations of walking speeds under different conditions: gradient and urban/rural townships. The data show complex interrelationships between environment, personal characteristics of pedestrian and physical factors. Mean walking speeds between 80-95 m/min are observed. These results do not support the idea that walking speeds are indicative of pace of life. Rather, walking speeds are proposed as being an indicator of the environment's 'walkability', as a walking speed that closely reflects that of the mean population is a key indicator of the successful design of pedestrian facilities.

This study provides evidence that robust tobacco control strategies that result in substantial declines in smoking prevalence are not accompanied by the hypothesised increase in 'hardcore' or 'hardened' smokers who are more addicted and less motivated and able to quit. The findings suggest that there is no need for substantial change in approach to achieve New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 goal on the grounds that the smoker population is becoming increasingly hardened.