September 28 2021
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Good sports make good neighbours u by Andy Bryenton
The Kaipara District Council has awarded $85,698 to the Mangawhai Activity Zone, advancing the community-planned outdoor recreation facility’s programme of works.
Audit report raises plan issues
A report by Kaipara District Council’s auditors has declared that the 2021– 2031 Long Term Plan …
P3
Multi-crop approach wins
p A grant from the KDC is helping expand the Mangawhai Activity Zone sports and outdoors complex, soon to incorporate basketball and the nation’s hub for Olympic level skateboarding
A test cropping and irrigation experiment in Te Kopuru could pave the way …
P5
Dementia unit open day success
“A fantastic day and the culmination of a magnificent community effort” …
P7
The zone, more commonly known as the MAZ, is at heart a community project. The volunteers who have helped guide its inception are very thankful to KDC donations and assistance along the way. Disbursements, such as this recent one from the council’s Reserve Contributions Contestable Fund, are a vital part of the funding plan, which has led from a patch of empty land to a facility described as ‘the treasure of the whole area’ by its patrons. “We started out for one reason; we listened to young people who had no place to play and enjoy the outdoors,” says MAZ supporter Colin Gallagher. “We’d like to thank the funding committee for investing in the next stage of growth here.”
Fellow MAZ stalwart Ken Rayward confirms that the next project to break ground will be a three-on-three basketball court of the type used in the fast-paced street jam variant of the popular sport. Kaipara Basketball is in full support. It plans to incorporate the new court facilities into its official tournament and play structure as soon as it is complete. “This is a facility, or a series of facilities now, planned, devised and maintained by volunteers,” says Mr Rayward. “It’s become the envy of every local town, even Auckland, and who knows what we will end up with? The community is behind us, and there are plans for more future growth, thanks to generous funding grants such as the one we have just received.”
Next on the list after specialist construction firm Contrax lay in the basketball courts is an expansion to the already world-recognised skate park at MAZ. It aims to make it the only Olympic level skate facility in New Zealand, in time for skateboarding to become an official Olympic sport in Paris 2024. Such an upgrade would make Mangawhai home base for NZ Olympic skateboarders. A fact not lost on their team when they brought the top Kiwi athletes in the sport to town this year, accompanied by the world’s biggest skateboard, a promotional prop. Both Colin and Ken would like to offer their sincere thanks to all those who have helped bring MAZ to the point where it is today and are helping plan for expansions in the future. ¢
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