Situated in Kawakawa is the Bay of Islands (BOI) Recreation Centre, a facility that is a great example of successful collaboration between multiple organisations. Owned by Sport Northland, located on BOI College grounds, managed by CBEC/Belgravia and supported by FNDC.

This is a facility for the community, including Green Prescription participants, who are encouraged and supported to make changes to their lifestyle regarding exercise and general wellbeing. This is a shout out to a facility that is helping a community to become more active.

Having the building upgraded has been a great move as it makes the experience more enjoyable for the people and they keep coming back. Kawakawa is a small community and word soon gets out. A happy customer is the best form of advertising, a great way to increase membership.

Covid lockdown in April 2020 was utilized to undertake much needed renovations to the pool and gym areas. These included the draining, water-blasting, and painting of the pool and building; dive blocks installed; bleachers built inside for winter, and picnic tables and BBQ for summer. The pool is heated so it offers all year-round use. Swim lessons are available, and the aqua aerobics class is very popular.

The gym got a fresh coat of paint, along with the arrival of new equipment for the weights area. The new cardio studio is located on the mezzanine floor above the pool overlooking the college grounds, a great view. More equipment for the gym is coming, as well as flooring for the cardio studio. This is great news for the community, who are very loyal with their support for the facility. Some members have been coming for years. In addition, there are also group fitness classes Monday to Friday, so there is something for everyone.

With a great facility there is also an amazing team behind the daily operations. This one is headed by Molly Board the Facility Manager, who has been teaching swimming for 11 years. She says, “I came to BOI Rec to work, as I wanted to be part of a community-based facility which my children could enjoy as well”.  

Molly talks about her team saying, “the staff are from all walks of life; they have a great relationship with each other developed by common interests. From being locals themselves, they know many of the pool and gym users having grown up in the area. They work hard delivering a professional service as they want the best for their friends, whānau, and local community. There’s training once a month which keeps them up to date with changes that may have occurred. People feel safe here.”

As a Healthy Lifestyle Support person working in the Mid-North area, Susan McCaw acknowledges the BOI Rec Centre as a great place to come to for all the above reasons, and also to show gratitude to the people that make this all happen, from the Operational entities, facilitators, managers, staff, and the people themselves.

“Facilities like these need to be supported and people encouraged to use them. I am very confident when I encourage my Green Prescription clients to use this facility as I know they will be very well looked after” says Susan.

What a great way to start a journey of ‘Wellbeing’ - at the BOI Rec Centre.

If you or someone you know would like support and/or information about becoming more active, please contact the Healthy Lifestyles team at Sport Northland on 0800 ACTIVE (228483) or email grx@sportnorth.co.nz