The community of Mahia is set to get an upgraded playground at Mahia Beach and a new multi-sports court at the Ormond Memorial Reserve before Christmas, thanks to the generosity of multiple funders and the hard mahi of passionate community group, Ngā Manu o Taiharuru.

Ngā Manu o Taiharuru evolved to advocate for local volunteers and groups committed to improving recreation and play spaces for the tamariki and wider whānau of Mahia. The group has been spurred on by the widespread and ongoing support from the community. There is an inherent social, physical and economic disadvantage to Mahia Peninsula’s remote and rural community. The proposed facilities will be transformative and are imagined as spaces to promote connectedness, new experiences and active participation.

“It takes a village, and sometimes a bit more, to make community projects like this a success,” said the group members. The generosity of funders has allowed the group to successfully raise the $533,000 required to complete the new playground and multi-sport court.

The group is very grateful for the support shown by the Wairoa District Council, which has allocated $110,000 towards the project and is actively assisting in project managing the builds.

The upgraded playground will replace the current one along Pohutukawa Drive. The plan has been carefully designed, considering feedback from the community and the beautiful environment in which it is situated. It includes natural wooden beams, ropes, a large swing set, a separate toddler unit and improved accessibility. The focus was on equipment that accommodates a broad age group and promotes independent, free physical play.

At the Ormond Reserve, the grass will be replaced with an all-weather turf to support active recreation for all ages and abilities all year round. The multisport court design will be marked to include a full-sized netball, basketball and two tennis courts, and two half-training courts (one netball and one basketball).

Work is set to begin on the Ormond Reserve Courts later this month, and the playground will kick off mid-November, with both sites targeted to be completed before Christmas, just in time for the kids as they head into the school holidays. There will be opportunities for community working bees as works progress. “We can’t wait to see the community come together and enjoy these facilities and provide safe spaces for our kids to socialise and be active”.

Caption: Mahia is in for a new replacement playground.

6 September 2023

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