A new set of Shared Facilities Transitional Guidelines has been developed by the Northland Sports Coalition (NSC) for Whangārei sport parks, marking another positive step and progression between local sports codes and the Whangārei District Council (WDC). The NSC aims to strengthen the engagement between sport and the various Northland councils, along with identifying areas of common interest and advocating for regional cooperation on sport, active recreation and play issues in Northland.​​​​​

The guidelines provide a clear framework for managing the transition between summer and winter seasons (a period that places the greatest demand on grounds and pitches) which provides participants a fair opportunity to experience various codes. They also outline the essential timeframes required by WDC and their maintenance contractor, Green by Nature (GBN), to complete ground renovations and ensure quality playing surfaces across the district.

The agreement reflects the collective commitment of six major sport codes that share Whangārei facilities: Rugby Union, Football, Rugby League, Touch Rugby, Softball, and Cricket. Together, these codes have pledged and signed off their code’s agreement documents to work in partnership to protect and enhance community sport parks, including facilities at Hikurangi, Hora Hora, Hukerenui, Kamo, Kensington, Koropupu, Mangakahia, Maungakaramea, Morningside, Ngunguru, Oakura, Onerahi, Otaika, Otangarei, Parua Bay, Portland, Ruakaka, Takahiwai, Tikipunga, and William Fraser Memorial Park.

“This MOU has been a long time coming.  Collaboration is huge in this industry. By working together, we’re giving players the opportunity to both compete and recover from their respective seasons. As a summer sport, we already operate in a short window, and the holiday break shortens it even more each year. This agreement allows our community to play more Touch, which we’re really excited about.” says Steven Beazley, Pūmanawa Awhina Regional Manager for Te Tai Tokerau.

A Shared Philosophy: Balance is Better

The initiative aligns with the Balance is Better philosophy endorsed by the Northland Sports Coalition, a movement that promotes positive sporting experiences for all young people. The principles behind the approach are simple but powerful:

Getting a Balance Between:

Winning and pressure to perform …. with getting an opportunity, getting better and enjoying sport

Adult expectations …. with meeting the motivations of all young people

Single sport focus …. with other sport and life commitments

The NSC hopes to achieve this through:

• Supporting positive change in competition structures and to focus on athlete development.
• Encouraging young people to participate in multiple sports and activities.
• Collaborating across codes to enhance wellbeing and participation.
• Ensuring sport remains inclusive, fair, and safe for all.

“The Structure of Seasons MOU plays a vital role in strengthening Northland’s sporting pathway, particularly for players in Whangarei. It allows players to stay active year-round by participating in both summer and winter codes. Rugby League players, for instance can continue developing their skills through summer sports like Touch and carry that growth into the winter season.” says Robbie Johnson from Rugby League Northland.

The agreement between sport codes ensures each has adequate time and access to facilities, allowing young people to participate in multiple sports without the pressure of overlapping seasons.

These guidelines were originally developed in 2020 in response to the scheduling challenges brought about by COVID-19, particularly the overlap between the winter and summer seasons. What began as a short-term solution has evolved into a long-term framework, now recognised as a benchmark for managing seasonal transitions in community sport across Whangārei.

A key focus of the guidelines is the importance of maintaining high-quality playing surfaces. Participant feedback consistently highlights the impact that well-prepared grounds have on both performance and enjoyment. To achieve this, all codes have agreed to support structured preparation windows, developed in consultation with WDC and GBN, to allow time for essential maintenance and renovation between seasons.

The Shared Facilities Transitional Guidelines demonstrate what can be achieved when sports, councils, and contractors work together with a shared vision. It’s ensuring that Whangārei sports parks remain in top condition — not only for today’s players but for generations of athletes to come.

Article written by Joey Yovich, Regional Sport System Connector