Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust's successes celebrated

WORLD-CLASS FACILITY: The redeveloped Alfred Cox Skate Park played host to the New Zealand Skateboarding Nationals which featured such top-level athletes as Felix Griffin. It was one of the many achievements of Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust in 2022. Picture by Liam Clayton

Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust (TAT) is reflecting proudly on a year of achievement in 2022 including building a world-class skate park and pump track.

Trust chairman Haimona Ngata, speaking at the trust's annual meeting, said the assets lifted the mauri (spirit) and vitality of Tairāwhiti, although there were people who needed to be educated “on how to treat things and people with respect and courtesy”.

He lamented that the volunteer organisation had been unfairly criticised at times, some individuals personally attacked and community assets continually vandalised, broken or stolen.

The pump track allowed the trust to host the first New Zealand pump track nationals and the final qualifier for the world champs, he said.

“We had some of the best riders in the world come and rub shoulders with local and national riders, solidifying the new sport as one of the most dynamic and fast-growing aspects of cycling globally.

“In hosting the 2022 New Zealand Skateboarding Nationals, we had over 110 competitors from all around Aotearoa converge on Gisborne”.

About 5000 people attended on the Saturday while livestream numbers were at around 9000.

“It looks like we are hosting them again in 2023”

Mr Ngata said other achievements during the year included —

■ Raising over $42,000 to help Saffi Vette compete in surfing events overseas.

■ Raising over $8600 to help Stella Smith get to the stand-up paddling world championships.

■ Running two Rogaine (form of orienteering) series events and raising over $2000 in support from local community groups and schools.

■ Successfully lobbying Waka Kotahi/NZTA and Gisborne District Council for the Grey Street pedestrian crossing.

■ Gaining funding alongside the disrict council for Streets for People — an initiative to change Grey Street to make it more people-friendly.

■ Hosting the first-ever Grey St Food Festival (December 16).

In general business, Mr Ngata said the trust had aspirational goals to build pump tracks in Ruatoria and Tolaga Bay in the new year.

Wheels in Motion will also start in the new year. Operating out of a container at a venue yet to be confirmed, it will offer mountain biking, BMX and road cycling training to schools and the wider community.

Trustee Amy Spence said they had vacancies for two trustees.

Sport Gisborne-Tairāwhiti chief executive Stefan Pishief congratulated the trust for lifting the profile of “active rec”. Many people would think the trust was a full-time organisation rather than a volunteer one, he said.