Sport Auckland Moving Together Summer 2023

MOVING TOGETHER
MOVING
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
TOGETHER
Summer 2023
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES Summer 2023
In this issue...
WELCOME
Stanhope Road Play
Festival
Puketāpapa Play
Project
GI Eagles Basketball
Health & Wellness.....6
One NZ Volunteer of the
Month............................7
Auckland Council Budget
Have Your Say............8
PG 2
PG 4
PG 5
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Welcome to our Summer edition of Moving Together.
I would like to start by acknowledging those who in some shape or form were
devastatingly impacted by the weather events that hit Aotearoa New Zealand
in late January and early February. None of us have ever experienced such
conditions in our lifetime. The catastrophic devastation will remain with us for a
very long time. Now more than ever is the time for community to come together.
We saw how the community spontaneously sprung together to help, and at
times literally save each other as the storms wreaked havoc on the North Island.
Our heartfelt thoughts are extended to you.
Community remains at the heart of what Sport Auckland does. Our vision “to
inspire our communities to live healthy active lives” is very much at the
forefront of our minds. For us, physical activity in the shape of play, sport and
active recreation adds value to everyone’s wellbeing, sense of belonging,
cultural identity, knowledge, skills and social connections. So with that in
mind, and respecting the fact that Auckland Council is staring down the barrel
of an unpalatable $295m deficit, it is alarming to see that many community
services and initiatives are facing severe cutbacks or discontinuation. We
make a plea that every individual, club and community organisation that relies
on or sincerely believes in our community services, funding and physical
activity familiarises themselves with the Mayor’s proposed budget and makes
submissions on the proposals via the Auckland Council’s Have your say site.
We hope you enjoy the content within this newsletter with some great initiatives
highlighted around the GI Eagles Basketball Club, our Neighbourhood Play
projects, and our Active Families projects.
Should you need any help with creating, or increasing, opportunities for our
tamariki and rangatahi to participate in play, sport or active recreation do not
hesitate to get in touch with any of our community sport team. We remain
vested in particularly helping communities in need and working closely
alongside community clubs, organisations, coaches and volunteers to help
strengthen our community play, sport and active recreation sector.
Until next time, take care everyone.
Mike Elliott
Chief Executive
SPORT AUCKLAND | Level 4, Gate B, Alexandra Park Function Centre, Greenlane West, Epsom • PO Box 26599, Epsom, Auckland 1344​
Ph 09 623 7900 • info@sportauckland.co.nz • www.sportauckland.co.nz

MOVING TOGETHER
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
“Such a cool
evening for our
kids & community,
my daughter & her
cousin had a blast
funfilled night”
The Neighbourhood Play System (NPS) provides a blueprint to identify and address
key barriers and opportunities for tamariki to play inside their school and in their
surrounding neighbourhood. This is approached through the eyes of tamariki and
their whānau who live, work, and play in that community. The blueprint seeks to
link with local plans and funding opportunities and considers how to embed play
elements through school grounds, footpaths, streets, alleyways, greenspaces,
waterways, industrial zones, marae, churches, and shops to promote play every day.
Summer 2023
Stanhope road
play festival
2
“A FANTASTIC
INITIATIVE, THANK
YOU TO ALL INVOLVED,
I, LIKE MY CHILDREN,
LOOK FORWARD
TO THE NEXT
ONE”
Over the past year in
tandem with our partners
Sport New Zealand Ihi
Aotearoa and Aktive
we undertook our first
Neighbourhood Play
System (NPS) with
Stanhope Road School.
The kaupapa of the
project was to understand
how various urban
system’s impact tamariki’s
play opportunities and
support the development
of initiatives that
contribute to more play
opportunities.
“tHANK YOU
FOR CREATING
A REALLY GREAT
FAMILY FRIENDLY
EVENING. I THINK
THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY HAD
A GREAT TIME”
3

MOVING TOGETHER
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Summer 2023
Puketapapa PLAY PROJECT
4
The Puketāpapa Play Project is a
collaboration between Sport Auckland,
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
and the Roskill Schools Cluster that
involves 11 primary schools.
Student voices have played a large part in the
Puketāpapa Play Project, Monte Cecilia Catholic
School principal Sarah McAlpine saying “They
[students] have helped to create guidelines about
using upgraded spaces in our environment and
they have really taken a lead role in using our
spaces creatively.”
Monte Cecilia’s new play equipment includes
everything from mud kitchens, balance beams,
giant games, rakau sticks and bamboo channels.
“We’ve developed under-used areas of gardens
into usable play spaces which have been gamechanging,”
says Sarah.
“The children love being
free, wild and out in the
elements. Teachers have
noticed that prioritising
outdoor time has helped
the students to be more
focused in class time.”
The project’s cluster-wide approach has also
brought changes in mindsets around creating
more playful environments with elements of risk
that lead to vital learning.
Marshall Laing Primary School, which is also part
of the project, is yet to introduce new equipment,
but principal David White says philosophies and
attitudes to play have already shifted.
“We now look at play activities through a prism of
risk versus benefit. Activities that didn’t used to
take place or areas that weren’t open for children
are now open and used extensively at play times.”
An area at the back of the school down a bank
that was previously out-of-bounds is now open
and a hive of free play, construction and creativity.
“On any given day we would have 80 to 100
children building huts or bases, climbing trees,
digging, making and exchanging items,” says
David.
“The benefits far outweigh
any risks, and the area has
gone from a no-go area
to one of the most popular
places in the school.”
AUT principal investigator Charlotte Jelleyman
hopes collecting data and recording outcomes
of introducing adventurous play will help other
schools see the benefits and pave the way for
free play nationwide.
“It is an exciting initiative that will have huge
benefits - all it takes is for us to go into one of our
cluster schools, close our eyes and listen,” says
Sport Auckland’s Play lead Taylor Kamuhemu.
GI EAGLES BASKETBALL
GI Eagles Basketball is located in
the heart of Glen Innes. A brand new
Basketball Club who serve their local
community by removing every possible
barrier to participation.
Since their inception, GI Eagles Basketball have
been overwhelmed with the number of local
tamariki and rangatahi that attended their free
holiday programmes in January 2023, Esther and
Manuel from GI Eagles were pleased with the
results.
The newly formed Basketball Club soon
discovered that many different ethnic and
culturally diverse participants came along to give
basketball a go in a fun, fully coached situation.
Esther, president of GI Eagles Basketball said
“Local tamariki and
rangitahi just kept coming
to our basketball sessions.
We are so pleased to be
able to offer them a safe
space, to throw a ball
around, to be part of local
competitions and to have
fun”.
With support and funding from Tū Manawa Active
Aotearoa, GI Eagles Basketball will be able to
continue to offer basketball opportunities to their
local community, allowing young people to get
active and avoid missing out.
“We’ve been humbled by the
dedication of the team from
Sport Auckland to help us
find our feet - or should I
say wings.”
5

MOVING TOGETHER
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Summer 2023
Health and Wellness
GREEN PRESCRIPTION WITH DAVID
Prior to joining the GRx programme, David
admitted he did little exercise and his GP
informed him that some drastic changes were
required. In 2019 David was given a Green
Prescription to improve his overall health.
He joined around the same time that Sport
Auckland organised the Rangtitoto Summit walk
and David was shocked when he realised his
level of fitness.
“first time attempting
Rangitoto Summit walk
and it really shocked me
on how unfit I was. I
barely made it back for
the second scheduled ferry
to return back!”
Fast forward to 2023 and David, after exercising
regularly, he has started feeling better about
himself, his eating habits have improved and
is sleeping much better. As a result David has
dropped from a 3XL to a 2XL in clothing.
ONE NZ Volunteer of the month
May Huang (January)
A big thank you to May who
has shown commitment to
activating the Asian community
in Auckland through free weekly
walking sessions, as well as
volunteering in volleyball
programmes for young people
within our communities.
NOMINATE A
VOLUNTEER
6
HEALTHY ACTIVE FAMILIES
As a result of a passionate leadership team and
engaged school community St Pius X Catholic
School and Sport Auckland have designed and
launched the ‘’Healthy Active Families’’
programme at St Pius X Catholic School.
The programme is well suited to children and
Whānau who would like to be more active, learn
together about healthy eating and find new ways
to keep active as a family.
The weekly sessions are delivered straight
afterschool by the Healthy Active Families team.
The sessions are conveniently delivered on
school grounds. The weekly sessions range from
boxfit, healthy eating learning circuits, cooking
challenges, food label reading games and a
variety of sports.
One of the initial key successes of the
programme, says Principal Andrew Mailei is that
opening the programme up to the school and
parish community has meant there is a really
diverse group of people coming together, being
active, learning and having fun!
Debbie Groenewegen
(February)
Debbie stands out as a
volunteer as she organises
a multitude of rowing
programmes, spending
countless hours arranging
accommodation, transport and
communicating with parents.
NOMINATE A
VOLUNTEER
7

MOVING TOGETHER
INSPIRING HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Summer 2023
Tu Manawa Active Aotearoa
Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa provides
funding for projects or programmes to
deliver play, active recreation and sport
experiences for tamariki and rangatahi.
These may be new or already operating.
We are welcoming applications from a wide
range of organisations that provide play, active
recreation and sport opportunities for tamariki
and rangatahi. Projects or programmes engaging
tamariki and rangatahi who are inactive and face
major barriers will be prioritised for funding.
What can be funded?
• Programme or project delivery (e.g. venue or
equipment hire, transport to the event).
• Equipment (as part of a programme or project).
• Officials, where these are required for the
delivery.
• Delivery staff wages (e.g. activity leader,
coordinator)​.
Please contact us if you are interested in applying
to the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund.
APPLY NOW
WHAT CAN YOU/YOUR GROUP DO?
1. Attend a community event to meet with your
elected member and share your thoughts –
click here for the dates and venues of these
events in your region/local area.
2. Talk to your community and networks, let
them know this is happening and encourage
them to make a submission.
Auckland Council is facing major financial
challenges with a budget shortfall of $295
Million for the 2023/24 financial year. This
proposal has major repercussions for our
play, sport and active recreation sector.
To that end we strongly encourage you to
become more fully aware of the Mayor’s
proposal and for you to Have your say!
3. Also please attend consultation events
organised by community groups.
4. Have your say – through a written submission
as only that counts. It is important to complete
this so that your preference are included in
the final decisions.
Some proposed reductions in funding for the
community sector including contestable grants
(reducing $3Million), regional services (reducing
$20Million) and local board support (reduce local
board funding by $16Million).
Consultation is open until 11pm on the 28th
March and you can make a submission
as to whether you support the proposals
put forward or would like to propose an
alternative way to save money or generate
income.
SPORT AUCKLAND | Level 4, Gate B, Alexandra Park Function Centre, Greenlane West, Epsom • PO Box 26599, Epsom, Auckland 1344​
Ph 09 623 7900 • info@sportauckland.co.nz • www.sportauckland.co.nz