Fee rise hits after-school sport

After-school sports for children in one of Auckland's poorest suburbs, Otahuhu, have collapsed - just as the suburb is reeling from two apparently gang-related murders.

Otahuhu's five primary schools, all classed as among the poorest tenth in the country with a total of 2200 children, have stopped organising sports at the local recreation centre because their families can't afford the fees, which increased when a new centre opened on April 1.

Fairburn School principal Frances Nelson said her pupils previously paid $2 a head for each game of miniball, but a team of five or six now had to pay $4-$5 a head for each game.

"We know our children can't afford that," she said.

Local MP Mark Gosche has called a community meeting on Monday to get a share for Otahuhu out of $2.5 million tagged in this year's Budget for youth programmes to tackle South Auckland's gang problems.

"We tend to get forgotten because we are in Auckland City," he said.

But the suburb has the same gang problems as parts of Manukau City which are getting most of the money.

Otahuhu father-of-three Faafetai Lafolua died on Friday night after being dragged under a van for more than 2km. A month ago teenager Haruru Pekepo was shot dead at the same site.

Mr Gosche said: "We have a new rec centre, that's great. But a lot of people are saying they can't afford to visit it because the fees have gone up."

"We have been promised a swimming pool and a library in the 10-year plan ... It seems extraordinary that we can spend millions putting sand on the beaches in St Heliers when ... Otahuhu doesn't have a swimming pool."

In Manukau, Otara Youth Action Group chairman Len Brown said his group had been allocated $700,000, to pay for eight youth workers.

Mangere East Family Service Centre director Peter Sykes said his group and Tamaki Ki Raro Trust had won more than $400,000 a year for six youth workers. But Otahuhu has won just three youth workers.

Auckland City Council community development and equity committee chair Cathy Casey said the YMCA, which runs the Otahuhu recreation centre, would meet local principals next week to try to address their concerns about hiring fees.

"Otahuhu Recreation and Youth Centre has the lowest charges and the highest level of subsidy of all the council-supported facilities," she said.