Steering youngsters to a different court

The court is part of Green's 'There's A Better Way' initiative for troubled kids. Photo / Michael Craig

Meet the latest weapon in the fight against street violence.

Former police officer Glen Green has devised New Zealand's first mobile community basketball court, to help steer South Auckland kids on to the straight and narrow.

The hoop tower emerges "Transformer-style" from the back of a truck.

Called The Guardian, the $90,000 system is made up of the tower hoop, a television screen and GoPro cameras. Games of 3x3 basketball will also be streamed live on the internet.

On Friday students at Mayfield School, Otara, were the first to test-drive the system, which is backed by the International Basketball Federation.

It was unveiled publicly at an event in the heart of Otara yesterday.

It is part of Green's "There's A Better Way" initiative for troubled kids.

"We can rock up just about anywhere and get a game going," said Green, who helped design the system.

"It is something I would like to see being introduced in communities across the country."