Month: February 2022

Get ready to try it, love it and be it with Well Wāhine Week 2022. 

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

Well Wāhine Week will kick off this year with a sunrise hikoi up Titirangi maunga on Saturday 26 February. 

For ten days, Whiti Ora and local providers will celebrate the women of Tairāwhiti, hosting a range of activities in which women and girls can take part. There are over 50 free events from 33 providers, including surfing, waka ama, group fitness classes and workshops around women’s health and wellbeing. 

Vesna Radonich, International Paddling Coach, delivered a Have-a-go Waka Ama at last year’s Well Wāhine Week. “Just watching the smiles on their faces,” she says, “the laughs of excitement and knowing the appreciation that they got to give Waka Ama a go was the highlight for me.” 

The kaupapa of Well Wāhine is to remove the barriers that women and girls may face when participating in sport, active recreation and play. The ten days is all about trying something new, getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people and overcoming the prerequisite that you must be good at something to start. 

“Last year was such a success,” says Sarah Pocock, Active Communities Advisor. “It was inspiring to see all these strangers coming together with all the fear and pressure removed. The vibe was friendly and adventurous. I can’t wait to see what this year brings!” 

Vaccine Pass requirements are subject to the provider’s event. Some events will require them. For those that do not require Vaccine Passes, these events will be limited to under 25 participants. For those that do require Vaccine Passes, these events will be limited to under 100 participants. More information on which events require Vaccine Passes can be found on the Whiti Ora website. 

To view the full calendar of events, more information about Vaccine Passes and to register for an event, click here. 

So, check out the calendar, grab your whānau and try it, love it, be it! 

Taupua Tairāwhiti Second Intake Closing Soon

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

The second intake of community organisations for Taupua Tairāwhiti is closing on Friday 18 February.

Taupua Tairāwhiti is a shared services model developed by Whiti Ora, and funded by Trust Tairāwhiti, the JN Williams Memorial Trust, The Department of Internal Affairs, The Sunrise Foundation and Provincial Growth Fund

Taupua Tairāwhiti Project Manager, Leanne Harrison, said “We are so excited to be able to take on more groups so soon. We’re able to do this because our current groups have been so responsive, and we’ve worked with them to get a range of great results in just four short months. With our modelling we know we can keep supporting them but also have space to expand our reach and take on more community groups that need a little extra help to reach the next level”.

The aim of the Shared Services initiative is to provide a fit-for-purpose entity that offers a range of services for the sporting community and not-for-profit sector. These services include financial management, administration and information management, and communications.

The first intake saw seven organisations sign up, Gisborne Basketball Association, Gisborne Riding for the Disabled, Gisborne Boardriders Club, Swim for Life, Horouta Waka Hoe, Parafed Tairāwhiti and Tairāwhiti Softball Association.

“The support we have received from Taupua Tairāwhiti has been amazing. It’s reassuring to know that our financials are in good hands, allowing us to focus on our purpose, reaching more riders and changing more lives.” Said Amy Hopkins of Gisborne Riding for the Disabled.

To find out more information about Taupua Tairāwhiti or if your organisation is interested in registering for the second intake, head over to https://whitiora.org/taupua-tairawhiti/

Organisations who are selected for the second intake will be notified Friday 18 March.

To register your expression of interest, please complete the following form. Click here

Bronwyn Kay Sporting Excellence Awards Goes Digital

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

The Bronwyn Kay Sporting Excellence Awards were due to go ahead on Friday 11 February.

Due to the announcement by the Prime Minister on Sunday 23 January of New Zealand moving into the Red Setting under the COVID-19 Protection Framework, Whiti Ora has reviewed the structure and delivery of the Awards.

Under the Red Setting for gatherings where vaccine passes are not required, participants are limited to 25. For gatherings where vaccine passes are required, participants are limited to 100.

“Due to the capacity limits under the Red Setting we are unable to go ahead with the normal format of our Awards. We know this will be disappointing for some people, however, our priority is to keep our community safe, and we’re determined to find a way to still give our sporting community the recognition they so richly deserve” Said Whiti Ora Chief Executive Stefan Pishief.

Whiti Ora has deliberated on the range of options available and has decided to move away from the traditional Sports Awards setting to a digital environment with Rāngai Productions. Rāngai Productions is a local multi-use studio and education space.

“We’re excited about hosting our Sporting Awards through the digital space and trying something new that still makes it possible to celebrate the achievements of our regions sporting community.” Said Whiti Ora Event Lead Debbie Hutchings.

We would like to thank all of our local sponsors, and the wider community, for their understanding and ongoing support through these uncertain times.

For those who have already purchased tickets to the event, they will be contacted directly for a refund.

More information will be released about the screening that will be launched online in late February on the Whiti Ora website and social media channels.

The Awards will be recorded on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 March and will be made available online later on in March.