Arataki Community Centre has been recognised as one of the most inspiring organisations at the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) Awards.
The awards, held in Wellington last night, acknowledged people and organisations whose efforts and initiatives have markedly improved the recreation experiences of New Zealanders.
Arataki Community Centre has been recognised for excellence, innovation and effectiveness in the provision of a facility. Photo: Supplied.
The Arataki Community Centre was recognised for 'excellence, innovation and effectiveness in the provision of a facility”, and took home The Outstanding Facility award.
In 2009, a group of concerned people from the Arataki community got together to persuade Tauranga City Council to develop a new community centre for the people of Arataki.
Just six years on, the centre is a hive of activity, with high participation in a diverse range of activities being offered on a daily basis.
'This is an inspiring example of how to bring a community closer together by involving them in the development and programming of a new centre that can meet their sporting and leisure needs,” says NZRA Chief Executive Andrew Leslie.
'It gives me enormous pleasure to present these awards in recognition of the people, organisations and programmes that are significantly helping our communities enjoy better recreation opportunities.”
This year's award winners include Te Ara Piko, a shared pathway around the Pauatahanui inlet in Porirua City, which won the Outstanding Project award. The pathway was jointly developed by the Porirua City Council and the Rotary Club of Plimmerton.
Sport Beyond School, an Auckland pilot primarily funded by Sport New Zealand to encourage school leavers to continue participating in recreation and sport, picked up the Outstanding Community Recreation Programme award.
Auckland's Albany Lakes Civic Park picked up the Outstanding Park award.
The Coastlands Aquatic Centre in Kapiti received the Outstanding Pool award, and the Outstanding Research, Planning, and Policy award went to Hamilton City Council's Playgrounds of the Future programme, which aims to build partnerships between local government and the community for sustainable recreation opportunities.
Individual award winners included Grant MacLeod, Emerging Recreation Leader of the Year; Richard Lindsay, who received the Mark Mitchell Memorial Trophy; Chris Close, recipient of the Ian Galloway Memorial Cup, and Paul Stuart Memorial Award winner Craig Carter.
Auckland's Tepid Baths Redevelopment and Parrs Park were highly commended respectively in the Outstanding Project and Outstanding Park categories.
'We had many inspiring entries this year and we had to make some tough choices,” says Andrew.
'Everyone on this list stands out for their passion and commitment.”
2 comments
Congratulations to Arataki community
Posted on 21-11-2015 10:43 | By Pamaxx
The residents of Arataki can be justifiably proud of winning this award. When we moved to Arataki eight years ago the crime and civil disobedience rate here was amongst the highest in Tauranga. Thanks to the efforts of community members, Neighbourhood Support, the Community Constable and volunteers this center was created. Since then the crime and civil disobedience levels have (almost) disappeared. This is what happens when a community takes ownership of their suburb, providing the role models and mentoring our younger citizens so urgently need. Residents in other areas of Tauranga should band together and emulate this excellent initiative. Max Lewis, Mt Maunganui
Well Done Community Police and TCC
Posted on 21-11-2015 20:39 | By carpedeum
Accolades all round to Community Constable Rachel Walker-her team at the time and those that followed her perseverance to have this centre built in the first place.Community Policing was- and continues to be of great value in this area.The Council who financially supported the whole project and Matthew Strange-the original Operations Manager deserve plenty of praise too.
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