It's World Spinal Cord Injury Day today and a group of Christchurch workers are giving up full mobility to experience life in someone else's seat.

The Canterbury DHB CEO and District Police Commander are among the group of 12 swapping their work chairs for wheelchairs this morning.

Superintendent John Price said he's never used a wheelchair before, so today will be eye-opening.

"Why would I not walk in the shoes of someone else for a day, to appreciate the difficulties and the challenges they might have."

Each year around 120 New Zealanders injure their spinal chord.

Price said half of those injuries are caused by vehicle crashes.

"If we could prevent one crash where one person does not suffer from a spinal injury then I think that's a wonderful thing to do."