Community-led success across Kaipara District

Sport Northland’s approach to getting more Northlanders active through using the community-led approach is paying off with some great examples coming through in the schools and communities we work with in Kaipara.

At its heart, the community-led principle helps the communities and organisations that Sport Northland works with to help themselves.

Sport Northland truly believes that any physical activity participation gains will be much more sustainable if they are “owned and operated” by those people who stand to benefit from them.

Pupils at Maungaturoto School and residents in Paparoa are definitely the beneficiaries in these examples, and they are also the “owners and operators” of their respective initiatives.

Maungaturoto School principal Margie Hutchinson tells their story:

“What was once a challenge at Maungaturoto School was turned into an opportunity.

Last year, during Covid level 3, one of the big challenges for staff was to keep the children two metres apart when they were playing outside. So to make things easier we invited the children to bring their “wheels” to school.

During the same time Years 5 and 6 children decided they needed a bike track.

This idea became an inquiry learning project.

They researched bike tracks at other schools and parks across New Zealand.

They plotted and measured and decided where they thought the best place for their bike track would be.

They looked at what materials they needed and did some costings.

When initial planning was completed they wrote to myself as principal and the Board of

Trustees. There was instant support for the idea and one of the board members, Matt Browne, who is also a local contractor, lent his close support to the pupils.

The pupils wrote to several organisations for quotes, donations, and discounts and the response was excellent.

The Rotary Club came on board to help fund the track, and have also helped at working bees.

Two weekends and more than 50 volunteers later we now have a bike track to be proud of.

Once details have been worked out, the bike track will be open every day, including community use of the track in out-of-school hours.”

Twelve kilometres away, one of the many things that is special about Paparoa village is how they bring their community together, and the Family Fun Day that the Paparoa Sport and Recreation Association now holds annually is no exception.

The idea for the Family Fun Day came about after the village celebrated its 150th-year anniversary.

As part of the festivities, they held old fashioned games at the domain which were very successful.

The free afternoon now includes an obstacle course with sack races, balance rolls and plank walking where teams strategise working together to complete the course.

Other games such as egg throwing, tug of war, water games, Rippa rugby and T-ball are also popular.

To end the day, the young people enjoy a good soaking by Paparoa Fire and Emergency.

The day is a great collaboration between the sports association, Paparoa Lions, Paparoa Fire and Sport Northland.

■ For more info on Sport Northland’s community-led approach and/or to get involved in the various community projects, contact reception@sportnorth.co.nz