Far North District councillor Colin Kitchen found the ground a little harder than he was expecting, but his enthusiasm impressed John Tahana (left), Haami Piripi, Adele Gardner, David Senior and Robin Schiff.
Far North District councillor Colin Kitchen found the ground a little harder than he was expecting, but his enthusiasm impressed John Tahana (left), Haami Piripi, Adele Gardner, David Senior and Robin Schiff.
A small piece of history was made in Kaitaia on Saturday when the first sod was turned to officially launch construction of the Te Hiku Sports Hub.
Those invited to wield spades didn't actually manage to turn a sod - the ceremony took place in what was once a metalled parking area, but they did scratch the surface sufficiently to earn a round of applause.
There isn't much to see at Moerua Park at the moment, but there soon will be.
The Sports Hub has always been billed as an investment of particular benefit to the young, the elderly and those who could improve their physical fitness, and that was emphasised again on Saturday.
We need our young people to live here, to contribute to their community and their country. This facility will help make the community stronger.
Dr Lance O'Sullivan, who had no doubt of the potential health benefits, congratulated all who had worked hard to reach this point.
"Kaitaia deserves the best," he said.
"Being at the end of the country doesn't mean the end of the line. This will help encourage young people to stop thinking about how fast they can get out of Kaitaia.
"We need our young people to live here, to contribute to their community and their country. This facility will help make the community stronger."
Opportunities for physical activity would encourage people to live healthier lives without relying on pills and potions. It was free to go for a walk, a run, or to get on a bike, but some people needed a little support through their journey.
Saturday's audience wasn't large, but it was appreciative of the speakers.
"This is the value of the Sports Hub. When people come together they get things made and things happen," he said.
"This is an investment in the future of the young. Kaitaia can be much more than it is known for at present."
He also hoped it might help him achieve his goal of getting Te Runanga o Te Rarawa chairman Haami Piripi into lycra, although he suspected that National candidate Matt King could be a better bet.
Far North District Councillor Colin Kitchen described the Hub as one of the council's biggest projects in Te Hiku, following the building of Te Ahu, and agreed with Dr O'Sullivan that it would keep people out of hospital.
Meanwhile Sports Hub committee member Brendon Morrissey said the focus had always been on encouraging everyone in the community to "be with us on this ride," and he was proud of the way that had been achieved.
The committee had been led over recent times by David Senior and Robin Schiff, while the project had received massive support from the district council, Te Hiku Community Board and all the clubs the committee had discussed it with.
"They completely embraced the concept," he said.
The Far North was home to some amazing young talent, Mr Morrissey said, but that talent struggled to thrive without facilities, instead of growing and developing, often because of the cost of travel. Now young people and their families would not have to travel so much.
"Maybe coaches will start coming to Kaitaia. That is the long-term vision," he said. "This is a fantastic beginning to growing our community but we need to keep the momentum going, and we will when people see things starting to happen."
