Sport New Zealand to support play through $4.3 million funding for local government

February 10, 2023

Play / Recreation / Sport /

Sport New Zealand has today advised that it is investing $4.3 million into a project that will help councils across the nation highlight the value of play for youth and child wellbeing.

The investment will help create 18 new Local Play Advocate roles inside local councils over the next four years, with Sport NZ to fund each role for two years.

The funding is part of the Local Play Workforce Project which has been developed by Sport NZ to develop and train a dedicated workforce of play professionals.

Advising that the aim is to highlight the importance of local councils in building community wellbeing through play, Sport NZ Play System Lead, Scott Mackenzie, stated “play is the easiest way for our tamariki (children) to stay active and is a vital component in their physical, social, emotional and spiritual development. It is one of the many ways we support New Zealanders to get active.

“Play allows tamariki to experience fun and freedom and gives them the opportunity to learn to solve problems, get creative, face new challenges, and create new friendships. They get to build the attitudes, skills and life-long love of being active.

“This is particularly important as we emerge from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The new council roles will add to the current workforce of Regional Play System Leads based in Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs) across New Zealand, with Mackenzie adding “these roles present a new and exciting opportunity for RSTs to work more closely with our territorial authorities.

“The initiative aims to build a significant national play workforce to help our regions better understand, plan and invest in play opportunities for tamariki.

“Play is about much more than playgrounds; play can take place everywhere.”

The first cohort of the Local Play Workforce Project is up and running, with roles placed in councils in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Gisborne and Christchurch.

This follows a successful pilot of the initiative in Hamilton, Auckland and Christchurch.

Louise Van Tongeren, the Council Play Advocate in Christchurch, says it has been interesting and extremely rewarding work, noting “one day I might be working with the Parks team to develop a nature play space in an empty park, or with the transport team to improve outdoor spaces to make walking and scootering to school more appealing.

“The next, I could be supporting community recreation advisors or library staff to develop play programmes or talking to organisations who need support with their own play initiatives.

“I love the range of conversations I have about safer neighbourhoods, inclusive playgrounds, and making our streets more child friendly.”

The Local Play Workforce Project derives from Kia Hīanga, the Sport NZ play plan.

Image: Christchurch's Tākaro ā Poi/Margaret Mahy Family Playground. Credit: Christchurch City Council.

19th December 2022 - Sport NZ releases guiding principles for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport

9th November 2022 - Innovative urban play and recreational activities pop up across central Timaru

2nd November 2022 - Sport NZ Group Chief Executive Raelene Castle warns of future challenges for the industry

1st November 2022 - Sport New Zealand announces 2022 Sport and Recreation Award winners

12th August 2022 - Christchurch aims to be world capital of urban play

7th July 2022 - Recreation Aotearoa becomes first Sport NZ partner to achieve Governance Mark for Second Time

23rd June 2022 - Recreation Aotearoa celebrates New Zealand parks, play and open spaces at Awards Ceremony

7th June 2022 - Sport NZ revives Push Play campaign to get nation moving again

7th June 2022 - Two new indoor playgrounds planned for New Plymouth

3rd December 2021 - Sport New Zealand welcomes impending resumption of play, recreation and sport

28th September 2021 - NZReps highlights the benefits of exercise for children these school holidays

15th February 2021 - Summer promotion sees Timaru District community facilities attract record attendances

19th August 2020 - Hawke’s Bay to benefit from investments in play, recreation and sport

3rd February 2020 - Government, schools and family groups should help young New Zealanders get fitter

5th December 2019 - Hamilton Play Strategy gets recognition from Recreation Aotearoa

17th November 2019 - Auckland Council secures awards for parks and playgrounds excellence

9th May 2019 - Hamilton’s Hare Puke Park playground named New Zealand’s best

11th February 2019 - Balance Play Parks introduced into New Zealand

20th November 2018 - 23 parks and open space areas in New Zealand receive Green Flag Awards

1st June 2017 - New Zealand guidelines to engage children in lifelong activity

23rd March 2017 - New Zealand children benefit from Play.Sport initiative

12th December 2016 - New Zealand introduces updated playground standards

12th November 2016 - NZRA announces 2016 Award winners

16th March 2016 - Play.sport helps Kiwi youngsters get more active

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.