Local Sport Northland Community Connector, Cheryl Smith attended a community-led meeting held in Rawene earlier this year.  It was at this meeting that local residents identified that the young people in the Rawene Community and surrounding areas wanted a basketball hoop to be put up as there is currently nowhere for them to play. Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports among youth in New Zealand and is projected to be the number one sport for New Zealand youth by 2020 (according to New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council statistics 2017).

Cheryl spent some time with the young people in Rawene and Omanaia Schools to understand their voice and options of where they would like to have a basketball hoop.

The options identified by the young people from both kura included:

• Beside Rob Pink’s horses & community gym
• Opposite the Public Toilets
• Netball courts

Based on this, a group is looking to come together in the near future to work with the wider community to help with the vision coming to fruition.  Smith goes onto says “it’s great seeing communities coming together and hearing what they want”. Sport Northland has over the last 12 months started working in a community-led way working with communities to understand what’s important to them and supporting them with their community projects.

For more information or if you can assist with the Rawene basketball hoop, contact Cheryl Smith at cheryls@sportnorth.co.nz or on 027 43 43 417.