The first of Auckland Council’s new regional sports and recreation grants has been awarded to Sport Waitakere for its He Oranga Poutama ki Tāmaki Makaurau sports programme.
The kaupapa-Māori programme is available for all Aucklanders. It aims to increase opportunities for whānau to participate in sport and traditional physical recreation, to revitalise and develop traditional Māori sport and physical activity, and to help Kaiwhakahaere (administrators) participate as leaders in their communities.
“We are delighted to support this proven, successful programme aimed at getting Aucklanders more active, more often,” says Parks, Recreation and Sports Committee Chair, Councillor Christine Fletcher.
“The funding of $120,000 ($60,000 per year for two years) we are providing will also contribute to a nine-month-long 'Leaders of the Future' youth leadership programme, 'He Manukura Āpuarangi', for 50 secondary school students. This programme will focus on leadership and governance in relation to wai (water), whenua (land) and whetu (the stars).”
Sports for schools
Some funding is also earmarked for the Mauri Tu programme, which targets more than 500 primary and secondary school students, to increase their involvement in sports and physical activity.
“We are very pleased Auckland Council sees the value in supporting kaupapa-Māori programmes like these,” says Sport Waitakere Chief Executive Lynette Adams.
“Last year more than 12,000 people participated in our programmes, up 3,500 on the previous year. Just over half of those were Māori (52 per cent). With this grant we will be able to expand our programmes across Auckland,” she says.
Last year, primary school-aged children gained the greatest benefit from He Oranga Poutama ki Tamaki Makaurau (HOP) programmes (41 per cent), followed by 20-39 year olds (17 per cent), 16-19 year olds (15 per cent) and 13-15 year olds (12 per cent). The under-5s (8 per cent) and over 40s (7 per cent) were less involved.
About community grants
Auckland Council recognises the vital role community groups and organisations play in helping Auckland become the world’s most liveable city.
Grants are one way that the council contributes to a thriving community sector, by supporting organisations to deliver a wide range of services, projects and events that benefit Aucklanders.
Auckland Council’s Community Grants Policy came into effect on 1 July 2015. This policy created a fairer, simpler and more accessible approach to accessing council grants by introducing three main grant types:
- Local grants, administered by local boards
- Regional grants for projects, activities or events that have a regional impact, and
- Multi-board grants, for projects spanning several board areas but not the whole of Auckland.
This grant was awarded under the Sports and Recreation Regional Grants policy.
