NZCT boost to all-weather turf project at Kaiti School

Kaiti Junior Hockey Stars ready to hit the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. They will be able to play on their all-weather turf on school grounds from next year.Picture supplied

A rain-affected playing field will no longer be an issue for sport-loving Kaiti School students.

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has provided a $35,000 grant towards an all-weather turf at the school.

“Having access to an all-weather turf sports surface will enable our winter sports teams to continue to train and stay active during the rainy season,” principal Billie-Jean Potaka-Ayton said.

“Hauora is a valued outcome for our students. It’s well known that physical activity, especially outdoors, has numerous benefits, leading to high engagement and attendance rates and success in other forms of learning.

“We feel better about ourselves and have a more positive mindset when involved in physical activity.

“Sadly, our winter sports programme has been severely affected by recent changes in weather patterns, as well as cyclones Gabrielle and Hale.

“Our field was often closed, restricting physical activity and training sessions for all winter sports teams.

“We desperately needed to reseal our multi-use court so that hockey and soccer players could still play when the fields were too wet.

“The decision was made to seek funding for an all-weather turf sports surface to provide a space for year-round physical activity,” Ms Potaka-Ayton said.

“We’re a 535 EQI school and our funding has been exhausted with Tier 1 property projects, including new toilets and classroom upgrades.

“But now we have this generous support from NZCT, the project has been booked in for completion over the summer holidays.”

It will be finished and ready for use at the beginning of 2024.

“NZCT’s grant has partly funded this project and the school board of trustees have saved for the rest.

“The total project cost is $70,000, plus GST.”