This report presents key findings and recommendations from the Voice of the Coach survey, completed by 78 coaches in Te Tairāwhiti between October and November 2024. Building on the findings from 2023, this survey aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the local coaching landscape, exploring coach demographics, motivations, challenges, and the factors shaping their development.
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Introducing the 2024 Tairāwhiti Rising Legends Squad
Whiti Ora are excited to announce the Tairāwhiti Rising Legends Squad for 2024.
Tairāwhiti Rising Legends (TRL) is an initiative by Whiti Ora, aimed at recognising, acknowledging and supporting the development of talented young athletes within Te Tairāwhiti.
Since it’s inception, this is the most females any squad has had, with eight females and two males.
“This year’s application process was very competitive” said Whiti Ora Talent Lead Carl Newman.
“This is the most applications we have ever received. It’s great to see so many leading female athletes in the district.”
Back for their second year are Lily Arnold for trampoline, Lucy Millar for sailing, Cleo Parkin for judo, and Hannah Webb for kayaking. These four join the new TRL’s Yahni Brown and Ella Sutton for surf life saving, Capria Morgan Lee for gymnastics, Cheidan Moetara and Hine Brooking for waka ama, and Maxwell Kennedy for kayaking.
These aspiring athletes will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Throughout 2024, this squad will receive exclusive mentoring and development opportunities to improve their skill set. These include workshops for nutrition, life skills, mental skills, strength and conditioning and media skills.
The programme aims to assist talented athletes in fulfilling their potential and gaining higher honours.
Calls for an Indoor Centre Gain Momentum
As the region looks to accelerate its recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, many in the community are sending a message that any recovery support provided needs to include funding for an Indoor Centre in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Gisborne. The supporters of an indoor centre are stating that the region needs a facility with at least three-four indoor courts, amenities, and other shared spaces. Based on facilities recently completed in other regions, the supporters believe it could be done for a price tag of around $15-$20 million.
The indoor centre would cater for sports such as basketball, volleyball, netball, futsal, pickleball, rugby, as well as for a range of other recreational and community groups and services. Many of these sports and recreational activities are experiencing significant growth at both a regional and national level.
“We understand that our region needs significant investment in critical infrastructure such as hosuing, roads, and the safeguarding of water and power supplies. No one is arguing with that. However, there also needs to be investment in well-being facilities that will strengthen the hauora of thousands in our community for many years to come. The two can be done together,” said chief executive of Whiti Ora Stefan Pishief.
“We’ve seen in the aftermath of covid and the cyclones how vital it was for people to get active and reconnect with one another. This hasn’t just been for physical health reasons – we can’t underestimate the positive impact sport and recreation has on mental health at a time when people need it most. Our community needs positive things to look forward to, and we need to be providing opportunities for our tamariki and rangatahi.”
“There are a number of urgent facility needs for the region, such as establishing proper facilities for waka ama, finalising the Whakarua Park upgardes, and upgrading Victoria Domain. Yet we are making this call for an indoor centre as Tairāwhiti has the worst indoor court provision in the country per capita, and we are seeing huge issues occuring right now due to this lack of venues.”
Tairāwhiti has one facility, with one publicly-accessible court at the YMCA for a population of 47,600 people. Some schools hire out their court spaces, but these aren’t always accessible, are over-subscribed, and generally don’t meet regulation and health and safety requirements.
The issues with the lack of an indoor facilities is already being felt acutely. This year the Gisborne Basketball Association has had to turn away numerous teams at both secondary school and adult level.
Gisborne Basketball Association Chairperson Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell said, “Due to venue capacity constraints and limited and ageing infrastructure at our current courts we had to turn away teams for the Secondary School and Club Ball Leagues this year. It’s heartbreaking to have to limit numbers for our community. On top of this we’re needing to invest our own money and people skills to maintain the spaces we do use, while paying a premium for court hire – it’s taking focus and resources away from potential growth, but is necessary with what we have to work with at the moment.
There have been instances, like the recent weather we endured, where miniball had to be cancelled and tamariki have missed out because we could only use outdoor courts to cater for the numbers. If we had a three-court facility, we could provide our current three-day format on one evening and then extend the number of teams that can play on alternative days. This would greatly increase opportunities for our rangatahi and hāpori with less of a stretch on volunteers.”
The development of the indoor centre would mean that clubs could expand programme offerings, increase membership, run local tournaments, host inter-regional tournaments and ultimately give more people more opportunities to be active through quality experiences.
“We have a really active community here that are really restricted in their options to get out and be active as we don’t have a major sports facility.” said Gisborne Volleyball Club President Adam Harford. “An indoor facility would be an amazing asset for volleyball.”
An indoor centre is also vital for a range of football activities such as Futsal. Central Football Community Development Officer Lee Smith said “ A quality indoor venue would allow a huge variety of other football related activities to take place, supporting the health and fitness of the wider community and increasing participation, including Walking Football, Freestyle and Street Football, Fitness Football and even Zumba Football.”
The YMCA also backs the development of an indoor centre.
“The YMCA believes it is fundamental that we unite the strengths of Whiti Ora, the Y and other sports association in Gisborne such as netball, basketball etc to demonstrate a strong community partnership during this process,” YMCA president Priscila Muir said.
“A joint effort for a shared goal — fostering a healthy and active community and encouraging greater participation and support from local residents.”
The push for an indoor centre is nothing new for Tairāwhiti, with various attempts and initiatives taking place over a couple of decades. More recently, the establishment of an indoor centre was one of a number of facility requirements presented to Central Government as part of a business case/ master plan developed in partnership by the Gisborne District Council, Trust Tairāwhiti, and Whiti Ora. As of yet the funds have not been released by the Government, altghough a tender process initiated by the Gisborne District Council is currently underway to finalise the feasbility study for the centre and it’s location, as a number of viable sites have been identified.
“Regardless of where the indoor centre ends up, as a community we can make it work. Smaller centres such as Wairoa and Te Kuiti have managed to do it and have created great facilities. Now it is time for Tairāwhiti” said Stefan Pishief.
A community advocacy group has been formed and will be meeting with key funders, interest groups and regional leaders to push the cause for an indoor centre in the coming months.
Image supplied by Apollo Projects for inspiration purposes.
Pay Half, Play Hard
‘Pay Half, Play Hard’ this season with the new initiative launched by Whiti Ora and the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) to ensure players can save money while keeping active and connected.
“Te Tairāwhiti has been hit hard by the cyclone, not only with regards to the loss of homes, critical infrastructure, and employment, but also in terms of mental and emotional wellbeing,” said Whiti Ora Chief Executive Stefan Pishief.
“Sport provides an opportunity for connection, purpose, and caring for tinana and wairua through being active. We know that in economically challenging times participation in sport drops as people are forced to make tough choices, yet sport has a critical role in restoring wellbeing and helping people and communities with their recovery. If ever we needed to focus on physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, it is now.”
NZCT has awarded a major grant of $250,000 to Whiti Ora for cyclone relief to ensure the continuance of sport within Te Tairāwhiti. This funding will allow high-participation winter codes to offer half price player fees for 2023 which will reduce the financial burden on families and remove a huge barrier to people participating.
“This grant from NZCT is critical,” said Pishief.
Ben Hodges NZCT’s National Grants Manger said “NZCT is delighted that through our partnerships with Bar 59 and Bollywood Stars we have been able to invest in this initiative to reactivate whānau across the Gisborne district.”
“We are passionate about the power of sport to lift the wellbeing of the community and to bind us together. We encourage sporting families from across the region to take advantage of this fabulous programme.”
In addition to this NZCT funding, some national sporting codes have provided financial support to also assist, including New Zealand Rugby – with a significant contribution also made from the other Heartland unions, New Zealand Football, Central Football, Netball New Zealand, and Basketball New Zealand.
Winter codes with high participation numbers, particularly with large numbers of tamariki and rangatahi will receive the funding support. Gisborne Basketball Association is one of the clubs that will be receiving funding toward reducing their players fees.
“Our whānau are currently struggling mentally and emotionally from the deleterious effects of the recent devastating cyclone on their wellbeing. This grant from NZCT will encourage more of them to get both their bodies and minds moving and reconnect with each other,” said Gisborne Basketball Association Chairperson Kylie Turuwhenua-Tapsell.
Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union and Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby participants will also receive the saving this year. “Everyone in our region has been impacted by the cyclone, some more than others. The social and financial impact has been huge. Many members of our rugby community work in industries that have been decimated by the cyclone. Taking away the barrier of cost and making participation in rugby more affordable for them will help our community get some sense of normality back into their lives and start the long road to recovery,” said Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Ray Noble.
Although the funding is significant it wasn’t possible to cover all sporting codes, so Whiti Ora is considering other support mechanisms for year-round codes and the summer sports. However, the impact of ‘Pay Half, Play Hard’ should be far-reaching given the numbers involved in the selected codes. There are many families who have multiple kids who play sport, and many kids play multiple sports. This initiative will help with significant savings during a time of financial hardship.
Up to $50,000 of the grant will also go towards supporting the additional travel costs being experienced by codes and clubs given the damage to key roads or training facilities.
Cyclone Relief Sport and Active Recreation Funding Available
We have been talking with groups from our sport and recreation sector to understand the extent of the damage and disruption from our region’s extreme weather events. To provide support, we have secured funding that can support some of your most urgent needs.
We have a very simplified process that starts with a conversation with you. No application forms to fill out. We’ll just need to know what costs you’re facing in the here and now, like transportation or equipment costs, or costs related to displaced training, etc.
Please reach out to our team to start the conversation as soon as you can. You can email [email protected] or any team member who you already know.
This first lot of funding is available to registered groups or entities that engage young people in sport, active recreation and play and are facing costs now. We’re looking at securing other funding for the medium and long term and for sport and physical activity groups who don’t fit this funding. We want to hear from you, to make sure any future funding is fit for purpose
Tairawhiti Weet-Bix TRY Challenge
Last week tamariki had four days filled with fun, laughter, and sliding as the Weet-Bix TRY Challenge hit Tairāwhiti.
Schools across Tairāwhiti were invited to participate in the Weet-Bix TRY Challenge. The Challenge is an obstacle course that consisted of cargo nets, an inflatable maze, a slip and slide, and finished off with free kai from the breakfast tent where participants received their gold medal.
The Weet-Bix TRY Challenge came about after covid restrictions interrupted the Weet-Bix TRYathlon, – a triathlon event. The TRY Challenge can be completed anywhere, anytime, and opens up more opportunities for tamariki to get active, and have fun.
Over the four days, fifteen schools including, Te Hapara, Mangapapa, Awapuni, St Marys, Te Karaka, Ormond, Whatatutu, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori Nga Uri a Maui, Te Kura Reo Rua o Waikirikiri, Wainui Beach, Te Wharau, our whaikaha community from Rongomaiwhiti Angitu, Patutahi, Ngatapa, and Waerenga-o-kuri, took part, a total of 1,500 tamariki.
The event on Friday was scheduled to be held at Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria but unfortunately due to the weather it had to be postponed. The Weet-Bix team have committed to coming back at the end of Term 1 next year to host the TRY Challenge. Fortunately, enough schools jumped on board last minute and we were able to host a TRY Challenge out at Patutahi School instead.
“Having the opportunity to offer the Weet Bix TRY Challenge has proven hugely successful in Tairāwhiti,” said Whiti Ora Events Advisor Debbie Hutchings.
“No matter the ability of fitness, all tamariki could participate in the events. Whiti Ora is grateful to be able to work alongside Sanitarium, the Weet-Bix crew, and our schools and kura to be able to deliver the events. We can’t wait to have the events held on the coast early next year.”
Whiti Ora would like to share a massive thank you to Sanitarium and Trust Tairāwhiti for funding the Weet-Bix TRY Challenge events in Tairāwhiti, and to the host schools, Te Hapara, Te Karaka, Te Kura Reo Rua o Waikirikiri and Patutahi who provided extra help, the venues and additional activities within the obstacle course.
More images can be found on the Whiti Ora Facebook page.