Andrew Moffat

More changes are needed at many levels for sport and recreation to thrive say leaders from across Taranaki.

A panel reflecting on the region’s sporting and recreational future at the launch of the 2024 Taranaki Sports Awards agreed on a need for genuine collaboration between groups and a better understanding of what motivates people to play. The panel included youth leader Ebony Kalin, Taranaki Golf participation officer Lucinda Searle and Taranaki Facilities Collective independent chair Andrew Turner.

Lucinda Searle said programmes making golf more social and approachable had proved popular and seen a big rise in junior playing numbers in Taranaki.

“Keeping that front of mind, why the group of people in front of you are wanting to play sport and making it about them is the biggest thing…just bringing it back to fun and friendship all the time for young people, that’s why they want to do it and see themselves improve,” she said.

Ebony Kalin, a South Taranaki student leader, said the less traditional options on the Taranaki Secondary School Sports Association calendar were the most popular.

Rogaine, a navigation sport welcomed competitive racers and those who just “turned up in Crocs”, gave young people more options to take part.

Andrew Turner said one way to boost opportunities for sport was through well-planned, multi-use facilities. The Taranaki Facilities Collective included funders, councils and enablers to help the community make the best use of limited funding. Fostering genuine co-operation between groups and different codes could make a transformative change, he said.

"I'd love to see people collaborating together really well and really genuinely and thinking of the big picture rather than just what's going on in their own backyard."

Sport Taranaki CEO Michael Carr agreed the future shape of the sector would have to change.

"Sport and recreation have been an integral part of our fabric and will continue to be, but we can't just keep doing the same thing and think we will get different results. We have to have a look at what are the possibilities now to ensure that generations to come get the benefits that we have all had in the past."   

Article added: Tuesday 30 July 2024