InterAktive August 2025

AUGUST 2025
INTERAKTIVE

CONTENTS
03
07
05
03 CE Update >
05 Your Voice: Ben O’Keeffe, Love Their Game Ambassador >
07 Participation >
07 Supporting tamariki and rangatahi to get active >
09 School Sport Census Snapshot >
10 Game Plan AKL TM >
12 Strenthening Sector Organisations >
12 Love Their Game TM >
15 Governance is the foundation >
16 Building capability across Tāmaki Makaurau >
18 Funding and Advocacy >
18 Advocacy update: Keeping sport and recreation on
Auckland’s agenda >
20 Tū Manawa opens doors for more tamariki and rangatahi
in 2025 >
22 Building for active communities >
24 Here to help >
APRIL 2025 INTERAKTIVE SPECIAL EDITION
FOCUSED ON THE LONG-TERM PLAN 2024-2034 ADVOCACY OUTCOMES
Tāmaki Makaurau Sport and Recreation
Facility Priority Plan
Edition 2 • April 2025
18
10
22
2

CE UPDATE
KIA ORA
Welcome to the latest issue of InterAktive. This edition is full of stories showcasing
progress made through partnership. It also looks ahead spotlighting some exciting
and important milestones for sport and recreation in Tāmaki Makaurau.
With Jennah Wootten
Chief Executive, Aktive
Partnership is at the heart
of what we do at Aktive. We
know that when we work together as a sector,
we achieve more for Auckland and Aucklanders
than what we could alone. We’re fortunate
to have a number of incredible partners who
share that belief and who support us to deliver
for our communities both now but also with an
important eye on the future.
In this edition you’ll read stories of partnership
with generous philanthropic donors making
Game Plan AKL > come to life, partnership with
more than 15 Regional Sport Organisations that
have collaborated with Aktive to make Love Their
Game > a reality, and the partnership between
Auckland Council, Sport New Zealand Ihi
Aotearoa and Aktive to unveil the second edition
of the Tāmaki Makaurau Regional Facility Priority
Plan >. These are just snippets of the mahi that
is happening but they’re wonderful examples
of partnerships that are making an impactful
difference.
As everyone knows, the funding landscape
is particularly tough at the moment so we’re
particularly grateful for the trust and confidence
shown in Aktive by our strategic funders. A
huge thank you to Sport NZ, Auckland Council,
Foundation North and New Zealand Community
Trust, as well as our Programme Partners
Water Safety New Zealand and the Four Winds
Foundation. Your invaluable support helps to
enable much of what is showcased throughout
this edition of InterAktive.
3

CE UPDATE
Looking ahead, local elections are on the horizon.
This is an important opportunity to have your
say on who will be representing your community
and the Auckland region as a whole for the
next three years. Aktive will be sharing some
information with the sector in the coming weeks
about the views of candidates in relation to sport
and recreation. We hope this is information you
can share with your membership to help them
consider how they might cast their vote. In the
meantime, more information is available at
Vote Auckland: Local Elections >
October also brings the return of Iwi of Origin,
always a favourite for whanaungatanga,
competition and community. We are incredibly
proud of the sport partnerships we have that
bring this unique kaupapa to life. Ngā mihi
nui to Counties Māori Rugby League Sports
and Culture; Kī o Rahi Tāmaki; Māori Football
Aotearoa; Pū Manawa Āwhina; T2T SPORTS
INC; Tāmaki Makaurau Poi Tarawhiti; Tāmaki
Makaurau Poitūkohu; Te Hiku o Te Ika Māori
Rugby; Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa and Toi
Tangata. And we also feel very fortunate to have
the blessing and support of Ngāti Tamaoho Trust
who will once again be leading our pōwhiri on
Saturday 18 October 2025; something that isn’t
to be missed. You can find out more about Iwi
of Origin here >. We hope to see many of you
there.
While this edition rightly spotlights the power of
partnership and collaborative action, I do want
to take this opportunity to acknowledge two
individuals:
• Firstly, we were enormously proud to see
Aktive’s Active Schools Manager Kathryn
Jones recognised at the New Zealand Sport
and Recreation Awards in July. Kathryn was
awarded the prestigious Susie Simcock Future
Leader’s Scholarship and all who have the
pleasure of knowing Kathryn know just how
richly deserved this acknowledgement is.
Congratulations, Kat.
• Secondly, October will see David Tse finish his
time on the Aktive Board. David has given nine
years of generous service to our organisation.
As a team and an organisation, we are richer
because of his contribution. Thank you, David.
It has been an action packed first half of 2025
and there are some big opportunities and
challenges on the horizon. If there is anything
that the Aktive team can be supporting you or
your organisation with, please don’t hesitate to
reach out. We are here to help however we can.
Ngā mihi
Jennah Wootten
4

YOUR VOICE
YOUR VOICE
BEN O’KEEFFE
NEW ZEALAND’S MOST EXPERIENCED RUGBY UNION REFEREE
Sideline Behaviour and the Power of Positive Support:
Championing Change through Love Their Game
With Ben O’Keeffe
New Zealand’s most
experienced rugby union
referee and Love Their Game
Ambassador
In the world of youth and community sport,
the focus should always be on development,
enjoyment, and fair play. Yet too often, the
atmosphere on the sidelines can undermine
these values. Negative sideline behaviour—
whether it’s criticising players, yelling at
referees, or creating a tense environment—
can have a lasting impact on young athletes,
officials, and the wider sporting community.
Positive sideline behaviour isn’t just about
being polite—it’s about reinforcing the right
messages for all involved. Coaches, parents,
supporters, and even fellow players all contribute
to the environment. Passion and love for
the game expressed correctly is fantastic.
When encouragement, support, and respect
become the standard, athletes are more likely
to enjoy their sport, try new things, and bounce
back from setbacks. Positive messages on the
sideline foster confidence, resilience, and a
genuine love of the game which is so important
to have on the courts and sports fields of
New Zealand.
Officials, particularly at junior levels, are often
volunteers or early in their development pathway.
Abuse or aggressive feedback from the sideline
not only drives referees and umpires away from
the sport but also creates a toxic environment
that deters participation and growth. When the
sideline champions positive support, officials feel
valued, games flow better, and the spirit of the
sport is upheld.
5

YOUR VOICE
That’s where initiatives like Love Their Game are
making a real difference. Founded on the principle
of creating better sporting experiences for all,
Love Their Game is a movement that encourages
supporters to show love, not pressure, from the
sidelines. Its impact is being felt across regional
Auckland and beyond, prompting clubs, schools,
and sports bodies to take a firmer stance on
sideline conduct..
Love Their Game is about turning good feelings
into good behaviours and ensuring we’re all doing
our bit to support our young people’s growth,
belonging and future through sport and physical
activity. The programme empowers communities
through simple, clear messaging—reminding
everyone that their words and actions shape
the culture of sport. Whether it’s clapping
effort over outcome, thanking officials, or simply
keeping criticism to oneself, the ripple effects are
significant. Young people stay involved longer,
referees are retained and respected, and the
values of sport—teamwork, respect, inclusion—
shine through.
Changing sideline behaviour won’t happen
overnight, but it starts with awareness and
leadership. Each of us has a
role to play in modelling the
conduct we want to see.
By embracing the principles
of Love Their Game, we
take a step toward a safer,
more enjoyable, and more
sustainable sporting future.
After all, if we truly love
their game, we’ll show it
with every word and action
on the sideline.
6

PARTICIPATION
SUPPORTING
TAMARIKI AND RANGATAHI
TO GET ACTIVE
Aktive is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and
actively looks to partner with iwi Māori and
mana whenua to support their aspirations,
particularly when these aspirations improve
physical activity outcomes for Māori.
Given this, Aktive was proud to launch the He
Oranga Poutama ki Tāmaki Makaurau Activation
Fund in February 2025. This Fund saw Aktive
make $150,000 available to Māori organisations
that support physical activity outcomes for Māori,
with a particular focus on tamariki and rangatahi.
Māori organisations were able to apply for up
to $10,000 of support for sport and recreation
programmes or initiatives with applications
assessed against Te Whetū Rehua framework.
The impact of this funding is
already being felt across Tāmaki
Makaurau. One initiative supported by this Fund
is Counties Manukau Māori Rugby League’s
Hotaka Puna Rangatahi programme at Ray Small
Park in Papakura which gave tamariki the chance
to build fundamental skills, share kōrero with
coaches, grow in confidence – and score some
tries in the process.
In Waitākere, another successful applicant, the
Hāpai Tūhono Charitable Trust led a hikoi to
Kitekite Falls in Piha, to learn about te taiao (the
natural world) and the brilliance of our tupuna
(ancestors), with Matua Riki kindly sharing his
mātauranga with the group.
7

PARTICIPATION
In Manurewa, tauira from Te Pūtahi o Manurewa,
Papakura Normal School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori
o Piripono, and Te Kura Kaupapa o Manurewa
were successful with their application coming
together for sessions of Urutomo (a traditional
Māori game) and a mini tournament, supported
by the He Oranga Poutama Activation Fund.
A highlight was the introduction of eight new
kaiwaowao (referees), building capacity for future
kaupapa such as Iwi of Origin.
He Oranga Poutama Activation Fund funding
also saw the Internal Strength programme
make a powerful impact, empowering rangatahi
through leadership, hauora, self-confidence and
sport. Facilitated by rugby league legends Paul
Whatuira, Ruben Wiki and Shontayne Hape,
the kaupapa gave young people the chance to
learn from role models who embody resilience,
discipline, and connection to te ao Māori.
With Māori leadership at the heart of
this kaupapa, the He Oranga Poutama
ki Tāmaki Makaurau Activation
Fund is laying the foundations
for intergenerational wellbeing
and leadership, more connected
communities across Tāmaki
Makaurau where cultural identity and
physical activity go hand in hand.
8

PARTICIPATION
SCHOOL SPORT
CENSUS
SNAPSHOT
The latest School Sport census data for Auckland
is in – and we’re excited to share the headlines!
Our rangatahi are becoming more active; support
of schools is going from strength to strength; and
schools are working hard to improve the physical
activity outcomes for rangatahi.
TOP SPORTS
IN AUCKLAND IN 2024
• Football
• Netball
• Rugby Union
• Basketball
• Volleyball
Less traditional
activities are becoming
more popular, particularly
Kilikiti, Lawn Bowls,
Ultimate Frisbee, Sport
Climbing, 3 on 3 Basketball
and Table Tennis
THANK YOU
CLM Community Sport, Harbour Sport,
Sport Auckland, Sport Waitākere, College
Sport Auckland and all involved – your mahi
makes a difference. Let’s keep working
together to support young Aucklanders!
9

PARTICIPATION
Oranges at half time, team uniform or
a quick feed after basketball practice?
For many it isn’t that simple.
Game Plan AKL is an essential initiative from
Aktive to support our young people and Year
9 students with access to sport and recreation
previously not possible. Each selected young
person receives up to $500 per year for five
years, allowing them to pursue their passion
and give them access to sport and recreation
previously not possible.
We believe the health and wellbeing benefits
gained from regular activity should extend to
all young Aucklanders, not just those who can
afford it. Some might argue this is a rite of
passage for kiwi teenagers and maybe in the past
it has been. However, life isn’t always fair and
limitations are real - which is why Game Plan
AKL was created.
For some it will enable equipment, uniforms
or registration fees for their favourite sports. For
others it may help with transport to the dance
studio, hip hop rehearsals, gym shoes or a duffel
bag for martial arts gear. We don’t mind what
they choose but we do care they are supported,
included and given every chance possible to
succeed.
Championing Game Plan AKL are some
of Aotearoa’s greatest sportspeople and
personalities: Dame Valerie Adams DNZM OLY,
Keven Mealamu MNZM, Ruben Wiki ONZM and
Laura McGoldrick. Auckland’s Deputy Mayor
Desley Simpson is also lending her support to this
worthy cause.
For more information visit
gameplanakl.org.nz
10

PARTICIPATION
“I am proud to be a part of this initiative.
Physical activity has so many benefits including
building confidence and creating lifelong habits.
An active Auckland is a healthy thriving Auckland.
Participating in a sport shouldn’t be financially
prohibitive so taking the pressure away from
their families and giving these young people the
ability to continue keeping active throughout
their high school years can only have positive
outcomes,” says Deputy Mayor Simpson.
“We believe in the power of giving and making a
difference in the lives of young people. We know
the health and wellbeing benefits that come from
being active regularly. It doesn’t just help young
Aucklanders; it also helps their family, friends, and
the wider community,” says Ambassador Dame
Valerie Adams.
Game Plan AKL is made possible through
the generous support of donors, with Aktive
responsible for the fund and covering all
operational costs. With over $750,000 secured
within just two years, Aktive is focused on
hitting the $1 million target as a result of a
special event being hosted by Her Excellency
The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM,
QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand on
12 September 2025.
MEDIA
HEADLINES
VOICES OF
FAMILIES AND RECIPIENTS
“The funding “would mean he is not
limited… Most importantly [it will give]
more freedom to explore other sports
within clubs/community rather than only a
short-term school activity.” Parent of recipient
“I like playing sport because it does not
only keep me fit and active, I get to socialise
with people outside of school and make
new friends.” Current Game Plan AKL recipient
“The support “will help me develop into
the person my family want me to be, but
even more importantly, what I believe I can
be.” Current Game Plan AKL recipient
“After paying our bills and food, I am
not left with enough money to help
out with sports stuff like fees, uniforms
sometimes even travel fees, so this will
make a huge difference for us as a family.”
Parent of recipient
11

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Show respect
on the sidelines.
An increase in poor sideline behaviour has
seen a number of Auckland Regional Sport
Organisations partner with Aktive to launch a
collaborative initiative.
‘Love Their Game’ emphasises the importance
of positive sideline support and its role in
creating quality sport experiences for all
involved, particularly young people. It brings
together a number of Auckland Regional
Sport Organisations including North Harbour
Rugby Union, Counties Manukau Rugby Union,
Auckland Rugby Union, Netball Northern Zone,
Northern Region Football, Auckland Basketball
Services, Tennis Northern, Auckland Water Polo,
Badminton North Harbour, Counties Manukau
Rugby League, Harbour Hockey, Auckland
Rugby League, Counties Manukau Badminton,
Auckland Hockey and Counties Manukau Touch.
Collectively, this group reaches more than
200,000 participants.
The initiative is also supported by a number of
Love Their Game Ambassadors including rugby
referee Ben O’Keeffe.
12

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Aktive Chief Executive Jennah Wootten explains
the significance of the initiative and the power of
bringing organisations together with consistent
messaging to amplify the efforts.
“Aucklanders are hugely passionate about
sport but sometimes this has unintended
consequences, often to the detriment of our
young people,” says Ms Wootten. “We need
to harness this passion in the right way, so
everyone involved has a positive experience.
“Love Their Game serves as a reminder to
everyone, no matter what sport, to respect that
the game belongs to those playing, refereeing,
coaching and managing, and not those on the
sideline.”
Ms Wootten adds: “We know these challenges
aren’t just being felt by one or two sports. We also
know that many families participate across different
codes. That’s why it was a no brainer for Aktive
and Regional Sport Organisations to partner
to bring this initiative to life, with consistent
messages across codes and across Auckland.”
13

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Laura Menzies, Chief Executive Officer, Northern
Regional Football (NRF) says: “The whole NRF
team is behind Love Their Game – it’s important
we support people in football and all sports,
leading with the right attitude and are out there
setting and keeping standards for others. People
need to feel safe to have a great experience and
grow a lifelong love of sport - Love Their Game
is engaging and practical, we’re looking forward
to working with Aktive to share it with our
members.”
Rugby referee and
Love Their Game
Ambassador, Ben
O’Keeffe adds:
“Love Their Game is
about turning good
feelings into good
behaviours and ensuring
we’re all doing our bit to
support our young people’s growth, belonging
and future through sport and physical activity.”
Love Their Game reinforces positive sideline
behaviour messages that participating sport
organisations can tailor for their sport and
roll out across their respective competitions
and tournaments. It is further supported with
social media messaging, workforce development
opportunities and content inclusion on Kiwi
coaching app CoachMate which has been
developed to empower and educate the
grassroots sporting community through world
class coaching content, modern micro-learning
resources and team management tools.
For more information visit
lovetheirgame.org.nz
14

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
GOVERNANCE
IS THE FOUNDATION
Good governance is the foundation of any healthy organisation.
In the sport and recreation sector, governance
is often carried out by passionate volunteers,
many of whom are keen to grow their
knowledge and skills.
That’s why governance is a key focus of
Aktive’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, under our
Strengthening Sector Organisations strategic
priority.
Aktive offers a range of support to help governors
at all stages, whether you’re just starting out, or
an experienced Chair. We provide this support
because we believe in the power of ongoing
professional development and what can come
from enabling those in governance roles to
continue to learn and grow. We also want to
help bring together those in governance roles
within our sector so they can connect and foster
a network of governance colleagues now and into
the future.
As part of Aktive’s commitment to supporting
governance, we recently delivered the Uplift
Governance Essentials Course in partnership
with the Institute of Directors (IOD).
Over six weeks, 30 board members from 14
Regional Sports Organisations (RSOs) completed
six online modules, finishing with a three hour
workshop led by IOD facilitator Kevin McCaffrey.
The feedback on this course was very positive,
particularly about the workshop, which made the
learning practical and engaging through using
real-life examples and group activities.
One participant from this most recent cohort
commented that the course was a “great base for
me as this is my first role on a board. I've already
talked to people who I thought this course would
be relevant to and highly recommended that if
they have the opportunity that they should do
this course.”
Another added: “A lot of the content was a
good refresher and there was some good
new knowledge there too. I really enjoyed the
workshop; the facilitator was very engaging and
was able to bring the information to life with
examples and group activities.”
Looking ahead, Aktive is exploring more ways to
support governance development and connectivity
across the region. If you’re on the board of a sport
or recreation organisation and would like to know
how Aktive can support you or your committee,
we’re here to help.
15

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
BUILDING CAPABILITY
ACROSS TĀMAKI MAKAURAU
When coaches, leaders and administrators have
the right tools and support, our young people
are more likely to get the quality opportunities
they deserve to play, grow and thrive through
community sport.
That’s why ‘Strengthening Sector Organisations’
is one of four Strategic Priorities within Aktive’s
2024–2028 Strategic Plan – and why we’ve
been busy running a range of sport development
courses this year.
Good Sports is a course designed to encourage
lifelong participation in sport and recreation by
encouraging adults to create positive youth sport
experiences. It helps adults – from coaches and
officials to parents and whānau – create positive
sporting environments for kids.
Auckland Basketball Services, Northern Districts
Cricket Association, Auckland Rugby League,
Athletics New Zealand, Athletics Auckland, CLM
Community Sport and the University of Tsukuba
all took part in the most recent
Good Sports course, each talking positively about
the knowledge and experience gained.
“I believe this [Good Sports] course is essential
for anyone working in the community space,”
says Matt Gardiner, Northern District Cricket
Association.
The Coach Developer Training Course covers
how to ‘coach the coaches.’ Coach development
is a key part of an effective coaching system, and
this course aims to unlock the potential of coach
developers and coaches so they can inspire and
motivate others.
Our most recent Coach Developer Training
Course saw attendees join from a wide range of
codes, including Bowls Auckland, Netball Northern
Zone, Basketball New Zealand, Surf Life Saving
Northern Region, and Yachting New Zealand.
Brian Keepa, Netball Northern Zone says: “I gained
some amazing knowledge around being a coach
developer that I think would be valuable to others.”
16

STRENGTHENING SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Thanks to Sport NZ, Aktive was able to provide a
three day Sport Development Leaders Workshop
earlier this year which brought together 14
leaders from sports including netball, football,
basketball, rugby, cricket and badminton.
These leaders, who are responsible for designing
and delivering sport pathways and quality
participation experiences for rangatahi (youth aged
12–18) in Tāmaki Makaurau, joined forces to share
ideas and strengthen opportunities for young
people across the region.
“Absolutely brilliant, great learning and good
connection to work,” says Tony Naidu, Auckland
Badminton.
Aktive’s courses bring together people from across
the sector to share ideas, build skills and create
better sporting experiences for Aucklanders.
Beyond the invaluable professional development,
they provide a space for networking and building
of connections. Keep an eye on the Aktive
website for upcoming sport development
programmes >
17

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
ADVOCACY UPDATE:
KEEPING SPORT AND RECREATION
ON AUCKLAND’S AGENDA
As Auckland continues to grow – with the
population projected to reach 2.4 million
by 2050 – it’s more important than ever to
ensure sport and recreation are prioritised in
our region’s planning and further backed by
meaningful investment.
We have remained committed to maximising the
impact of that additional funding by leveraging
the strong connections and ways of working
that the Tāmaki Makaurau Sport and Recreation
Facility Funders’ Forum enables.
“Advocating for the sport and recreation
needs of Auckland and Aucklanders is central
to Aktive role,” says Aktive Chief Executive
Jennah Wootten. “We work with key
influencers and decision makers in Tāmaki
Makaurau to make sure sport and recreation
are prioritised now and into the future.”
Over the past year, Aktive’s advocacy has
delivered real results for our communities and
the sport and recreation sector. Highlights
include securing an additional $35 million
for Auckland Council’s Sport and Recreation
Facility Investment Fund (SRFIF) over three
years and ensuring that 70% of this fund is
non-contestable – giving priority projects an
enhanced level of support.
18

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
APRIL 2025 INTERAKTIVE SPECIAL EDITION
FOCUSED ON THE LONG-TERM PLAN 2024-2034 ADVOCACY OUTCOMES
It is also encouraging to see a Statement
of Intent between Auckland Council and
Ministry of Education in place which
provides a platform to formally explore
alignment of investment for facilities that
provide community access.
Aktive’s unwavering focus on this mahi is
highlighted in our 2024–2028 Strategic Plan,
which identifies Advocacy and Funding as one
of four strategic focus areas. Our Advocacy
and Funding Strategic Priority works closely
with our Active Environments Strategic Priority
which provides free, specialised support for
organisations involved in facility and open space
developments across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Find out more in this special edition of
InterAktive > which looks at the progress
that has been made with all things active
environments since our Long-term Plan
2024-2034 advocacy efforts.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Auckland local
government elections present a significant
opportunity to keep sport and recreation firmly
on the agenda. Stay tuned for more from Aktive
in the coming weeks, to help you understand
which candidates standing for election have
views pertaining to sport and recreation that
will help us achieve our vision of Auckland
becoming the world’s most active city.
“By continuing to advocate strongly for sport
and recreation and educating decisions makers
on the benefits that flow from our communities
being active, we can help to build an Auckland
where young people and communities thrive,”
says Ms Wootten.
19

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
TŪ MANAWA OPENS DOORS
FOR MORE TAMARIKI AND
RANGATAHI IN 2025
Helping children and young people access
quality opportunities to play, be active, and
connect is at the heart of Tū Manawa Active
Aotearoa. Now, with a new funding round
open, even more tamariki and rangatahi will
have the chance to get involved.
Backed by Sport NZ and delivered in Tāmaki
Makaurau by Aktive, with support from CLM
Community Sport, Harbour Sport, Sport
Auckland and Sport Waitākere, the fund has
already made a big impact across our region.
Since 2020, more than $25.6 million has been
distributed through 1,567 approved projects,
supporting an expected 788,000 participants
from over 600 organisations. Activities have
ranged from school play sessions to community
recreation programmes.
20

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
The fund prioritises tamariki and rangatahi who
are less active, including disabled young people,
girls and young women, and those living in
higher deprivation communities.
This year, Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa is
providing $5.1 million to support tamariki and
rangatahi in Tāmaki Makaurau to take part
in quality play, active recreation and sport
opportunities. The latest Local Fund round is
open until 31 August, with a funding cap of
$50,000 per individual application. The Fast
Fund, for projects up to $10,000, is open until
November 2025.
A key change this year is that the Regional
Fund (for Auckland wide projects) will only have
one round, opening 1 September and closing
30 September 2025.
Tū Manawa by the numbers
• $25.6 million distributed in
Tāmaki Makaurau since 2020
• 1,567 projects funded
• 788,000 participants expected
• 600+ organisations supported
• 49% active recreation projects,
37% sport, 14% play
To apply, you’ll need to first complete a
registration form. Once registered, you will
receive a unique application link (valid for 20
days), with autosave enabled. If you’re new
to Tū Manawa, we strongly encourage you to
reach out direct. Our wider team is available
to support you working through the process,
with the aim of building a strong and compelling
application. You can find out more and apply
here >
21

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
BUILDING FOR
ACTIVE COMMUNITIES
Aktive’s vision for Tāmaki Makaurau is to be
the world’s most active city, and fit for purpose
facilities are critical to achieving this goal.
To support this, the Tāmaki Makaurau Sport
and Recreation Facility Priority Plan has been
refreshed for 2025, continuing its role as a vital
guide for facility development across Auckland.
The refreshed Plan was launched at a sector hui
held in April 2025, which highlighted that the
first edition of the Plan has already delivered
strong results. Five of the top 10 projects in the
inaugural Plan are now fully funded, including
the completed AUT Millennium Track renewal.
Developed by Aktive in collaboration with
Auckland Council and Sport NZ and with input
from the wider sport and recreation sector,
the inaugural Plan, released in July 2024, set
out project priorities to help inform funders
in their decision making. The second edition
builds on that foundation, providing an updated
snapshot of the highest priority projects for
the region.
22

FUNDING AND ADVOCACY
A number of major facilities – such as the
Colin Dale Kart Sport Track, Wero Climb, Lloyd
Elsmore Hockey Turf and the Hobsonville
Marine Sports Centre – are also under
construction, whiles others including the Colin
Maiden Hockey Turfs and the West Auckland
Riding for the Disabled facility are well advanced.
Looking ahead, the refreshed Plan looks to
continue this strong progress by employing a
dynamic and phased approach.
In the short term, the Plan’s first phase
(which covers years one to three) focuses on
supporting projects that already have some
funding, helping to close gaps and move them
into delivery. Beyond this, the Plan’s second
phase (from 2027 onwards) will concentrate on
addressing network shortfalls, such as the need
for additional indoor courts.
Tāmaki Makaurau Sport and Recreation
Facility Priority Plan
Edition 2 • April 2025
Aktive General Manager Strategy, Investment
and Services Debbie Curgenven believes this
approach will see the Plan continue to deliver
results: “Delivering the facilities Auckland and
Aucklanders need for sport and recreation is
hugely challenging, and every funding dollar
counts… this Plan helps ensure funding is
directed for maximum impact.”
For more information and the latest edition of
the Tāmaki Makaurau Sport and Recreation
Facility Priority Plan visit the Aktive website >
or reach out to one of our team to explore how
we can help.
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aktive.org.nz
@AktiveAuckland
Aktive-Auckland
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