Muriwhenua Education and Sports Hub general manager Manuera Rīwai, Te Iri-Rangi Tawhara, Tumuaki o te Rangi Aniwaniwa and admin officer Emma Brass celebrate the Memorandum of Understanding to oversee the management of Te Puna Wai Ora sports complex.
Muriwhenua Education and Sports Hub general manager Manuera Rīwai, Te Iri-Rangi Tawhara, Tumuaki o te Rangi Aniwaniwa and admin officer Emma Brass celebrate the Memorandum of Understanding to oversee the management of Te Puna Wai Ora sports complex.
Big plans and a fresh look are in store for the Far North’s Te Puna Wai Ora sports complex.
Te Rangi Aniwaniwa has confirmed a two-year memorandum of understanding with Muriwhenua Education and Sports Hub (MESH) to oversee the management of Te Puna Wai Ora, the sports complex with a double court basketball stadium and heated swimming pool.
The complex is based at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa School, on Quarry Rd, Awanui, and will have to close for up to two months for a major resealing of its two pools.
Te Rangi Aniwaniwa Board chairwoman Trudy Brown said MESH will manage both kura and community use of Te Puna Wai Ora.
‘‘Our teachers can focus on curriculum delivery and MESH can manage all the community users and help make Te Puna Wai Ora more financially sustainable,’’ Brown said.
Te Rangi Aniwaniwa tumuaki Irirangi Tawhara also emphasised the importance of water safety and the complex’s role in this.
“Muriwhenua is surrounded by the sea and our whānau are always out fishing, diving, and paddling, so it’s vital that our tamariki learn how to swim and be safe around water,” Tawhara said.
MESH general manager Manuera Rīwai was looking forward to making the partnership work.
“MESH directors are involved in a wide range of sports, and Te Rangi Aniwaniwa has many projects and sports programmes that we need to cater for as well,’’ Rīwai said.
“Te Puna Wai Ora is a wonderful facility and a valuable resource for the wider community. Our major project is the resealing of both the main pool and the Kohanga pool, so we’ll be closing Te Puna Wai for about six to eight weeks and reopening it at the start of Term 2.”
Big plans are afoot for the Te Puna Wai Ora sports complex, in Awanui.
The Lotteries Community Facilities Fund has contributed 66% of the funding for the resealing project, which will allow MESH to extend the pools’ life by another 20 years, ensuring they remain a vital asset for the community.
He said anyone wanting to donate towards the pool resealing or the gym ceiling project, can contact MESH at admin@tepunawaiora.com.
About Te Puna Wai Ora sports complex:
Te Puna Wai Ora is a recreational centre with an indoor heated swimming pool and multi-sport gymnasium. The indoor heated swimming pool is 25m with five lanes. The gymnasium has two basketball courts.
It is located at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa School, on Quarry Rd, Awanui. For bookings email Admin@tepunawaiora.com.
