2006

During the first school term of 2006, a trial walk to school project was held with 102 schools in Auckland, Tauranga, Nelson and Dunedin. The event was led by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), in partnership with Land Transport New Zealand and Sanitarium Health Foods. Local councils and sports trusts carried out the regional coordination except in the Auckland region, which was coordinated by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

The event was branded ‘Feet First’ and focused on a walk to school week in March, Included in the promotion was a Walk to School Day and ongoing Walking Wednesdays. The Feet First logo was created and resources were developed to encourage children to get involved.

2007

In 2007 Land Transport New Zealand took over the lead to organise Feet First. The event again involved schools from the Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Nelson/Tasman areas. The event included a Walk to School Day and Walking Wednesdays.

The number of participating schools grew to 170 with nearly 60,000 students taking part.

On Walk to School Day the average rate of walking to school was 73 percent, a significant mode shift as 45 percent reported walking to school two weeks earlier.

Survey responses after Feet First Walk to School Week 2007 showed that:

• 73 percent of respondents felt that the promotion had increased the number of children walking to school on a regular basis
• as a result of Feet First, 83 percent of schools who returned surveys had continued (or thought about ways to continue) to promote walking.

2008

Feet First Walk to School Week was held 3 from 3 to 7 March 2008 and a record number of Kiwi kids hit the footpaths and headed to class 'feet first'.  Primary school children from over 440 schools across the country took part in events over the week.

In 2008 Feet First organisers Land Transport New Zealand merged with Transit to become the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA). The NZTA now manage the Feet First programme.