This report outlines the key findings and recommendations that emerged from the Voice of the Coach survey that was completed by 74 coaches within Te Tairāwhiti between July and September 2023. The survey aimed to comprehensively understand the coaching landscape in Te Tairāwhiti, capturing details about the coaches, their demographics, motivations, challenges, and factors influencing their development.
View the full report here.
Meri Kirihimete & Happy New Year from all of us here ✨
Our office is closed from 4.30pm Friday 22 December, with the team returning to work from Monday 15 January.
We hope you enjoy the summer, spending time with your whānau and resetting for 2024.
Noho ora mai.
Morehu and Arohea Pewhairangi from Ngati Oneone closed off the 2023 Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge with a karakia on Sunday.
1,269 participants completed a total of 10,557 climbs collectively. With 130 participants completing 68 climbs to reach the equivalent of Mt. Everest.
“The eleventh edition of the Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge once again turned the maunga into a hive of activity and motivated our community to use this historical landmark to walk, jog or run their way to the height of Mt Everest.” said Whiti Ora Events Advisor Debbie Hutchings.
“Through this, friendships are created, stories are shared and some achieve more than what they ever thought they could or would do.”
At the top of the individual leaderboard was Bevan Brooking, with a total of 286 climbs. Bevan is a multiple title holder in both judo and jiu jitzu but due to an injury, he swapped the mats for the maunga.
This year, Ngati Porou Oranga had a team of 84 people and took out first place on the team leaderboard with an impressive 1,725 climbs. One of their members, Norm Ngaira, has his own unique story. Norm has attempted the challenge for seven years, this year he not only achieved the 68 climbs, but he finished the challenge with 200 climbs. His motivation for the challenge and lifestyle changes, was to be able to look after himself so he could look after the most important people in his life, his whānau.
In third place on the team leaderboard was Last of the Summer Wine, with an average age of 77 years, they collectively climbed the maunga 824 times. The team is made up of nine members, with Liz Thodey, 74 years of age, placing second on the individual leaderboard with a total of 222 climbs. Fellow teammate, Helen Humble, also reached a milestone, turning 82 recently and celebrated this by completing her 82nd climb on the final day of the challenge.
With support from Ngati Oneone, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, the East Coast Cancer Society, the Gisborne District Council and ProTraffic, as well as local champions such as Huringa Pai, the event was able to raise awareness and funds for the East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer. This year, the online donations amounted to $1,362, all of which will be donated to the East Coast Cancer Society.
The Gisborne District Council in collaboration with Whiti Ora, hosted the first Play Street in Tairāwhiti.
Play took over Edwards Street with the road being cordoned off so that around 20 tamariki and whānau could come together to participate in a range of play activities including cricket, chalk drawing, bicycles, frisbees and parachute games.
“It was so cool to see tamariki and whānau playing safely together on the street, just like how many of us grew up.” said Whiti Ora Regional Play System Lead Anna Tolich.
Play Streets create safe spaces for play by temporarily restricting traffic to streets, so that neighbours can play safely and freely outside their own front door. This allows tamariki to play, and neighbours of all ages to connect.
“Our communities have been through a lot recently” said Gisborne District Council Play Advocate Katie Kennedy.
“It was amazing to see everyone coming together, in some cases meeting each other for the first time, sharing stories and creating some wonderful playful moments.”
“This Play Street was a pilot for us, and we’re hoping to take learnings and develop guidelines and processes so neighbourhoods across Tairāwhiti can host their own Play Street in 2024.”
Still deciding who to vote for in the election?
Well perhaps the response from some of the East Coast candidates about their thoughts on the Indoor Centre proposal will help to sway your thinking!
To get this project over the line we will need a strong advocate in parliament. Here’s what some of the candidates had to say.
Scroll down to view the full statements, that are in no particular order.
First we asked, Do you support the development of a multi-purpose indoor centre in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa/Gisborne (and feel free to comment as to why or why not?)
Dana Kirkpatrick: “I do support the indoor sports concept for Gisborne in a cohesive and coherent way that builds in the investment already made in sporting facilities. Having worked in sport for many years I am fully supportive of anything that improves the health and well-being of our people. This region has a huge number of priorities to work through in the short to medium term and whilst this seems like a nice to have it would bring many many other benefits.”
Tamati Coffey: “I’m 100% in support of a new multi purpose indoor centre. It would build on our Government’s $40M investment into the Kiwa Pools, the rebuild of the Midway Surf Club and the new skate park. More stuff for our young people to do – I’m super supportive of.”
Jordan Walker: “Absolutely – I tautoko your remark, that these sorts of developments do have significant social and wellbeing return on our communities. I think that the upgrade of the skatepark shows exactly that. When we give our rangatahi positive spaces to interact with and engage, that’s good for them, and equitable – we’re offering positive growth opportunities. I am dubious about the idea of this complex going to Waikirikiri Park, I would want to know if it would have any impact on our low-income whānau in their already precarious living situations in that area.”
Michael Howe: “ACT believes in local democracy and that local communities know what is best for their community, not a top down directive from central government. Therefore, if the local community think the development of a multi-purpose indoor centre is what is needed, ACT would support this initiative.”
We also asked, If so, what support could you give to the development of an Indoor Centre if you were elected Member of Parliament for the East Coast electorate?
Dana Kirkpatrick: “I will advocate for this in line with the list of priorities Already before us. But I do have a background in creative ideas so let’s keep in touch.”
Tamati Coffey: “I will be a staunch advocate for this kaupapa until it’s delivered.”
Jordan Walker: “Keeping in mind my limited capacity to promise anything (given I’m pushing a Green Party vote), what I can comment on is our parties Climate Safe Communities policy, and how the Kaupapa of a multipurpose indoor centre aligns with it in future planning, long-term thinking for the environment and our communities. Within the Climate Safe Communities policy is the potential of a new $750m fund over three years that will create space for nature and protect towns and cities from flooding (paid for with a wealth tax). As a result this will ensure that our towns and cities will have safe places for our children to play and move around safely; more green spaces that provide a place to relax and protect us from flooding. In addition to this future planning is the advocacy for more carbon efficient transport infrastructure such as buses and trains, with services like free dental just a safe walk or bike ride away. We know the solutions. The only obstacles are political. This policy would respond more as a buffer and support around the idea of a multi-purpose indoor centre, but in my view has the capacity to work cohesively with the project. Personally I tautoko any amplification of social and wellbeing return on communities, especially low-income, so would be personally interested to lend support in whatever capacity I had.”
Michael Howe: “ACT will repeal and replace the Resource Management Act, therefore will make it faster and cheaper to be able to develop the indoor centre. We would be able to ensure resource consent would be a faster process, with less red tape. Our materials register, would also mean there is more competition to get the materials at a competitive price. We would give back ½ of the GST to the local region from the cost of the new build, to be spent on infrastructure in the local area. We also believe in PPP (private, and public partnerships) to assist with the overall build costs. These have been successful across New Zealand.”
We received no response from the NZ First Party.
It’s that time of year again! Registrations for the Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge open on Monday 25 September.
The event starts Monday 2 October and ends on Sunday 19 November.
To celebrate the opening of the challenge, Whiti Ora are running a group hikoi to the summit on Monday 2 October at 6.15am. This will be followed by a karakia, sunrise yoga or bodyweight cardio workout, weather dependent, and a free breakfast. Coffee will also be available to purchase.
The iconic event of Tairāwhiti gets participants of all ages and abilities taking part in the seven-week challenge where individuals or teams walk, run or cycle up Titirangi 68 times, which is the equivalent to the height of Mount Everest. Participants can use alternative peaks wherever they are located around Aotearoa and convert the climbs using the Strava app or Topographic online.
Throughout the challenge, there will be pop up events and prizes to giveaway. Keep an eye out for the Whiti Ora Facebook page for more details.
“This is the eleventh year that the event has been held. This event is a personal journey to challenge yourself to reach a goal. Year on year the stories of people doing more than they ever believed possible is what makes this challenge so special” said Whiti Ora Events Advisor Debbie Hutchings.
Thank you to Ngāti Oneone, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, Gisborne District Council, and ProTraffic for Traffic Management for the ongoing support so that the event can go ahead for the community.
The challenge aims to create awareness for bowel cancer. Donations received through the Challenge website will support patients and whānau in Tairāwhiti who have been affected by a bowel cancer diagnosis through the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society.
For more information and to register for the free event, click here.