27 January 2012

Big upgrade for little town

On Waitangi weekend, three years after the idea was first discussed, the residents of Kaipaki will celebrate the opening of their newly upgraded community hall and sports grounds. NZCT is proud to be involved in this project – one which will offer enduring benefits for locals for many generations to come.

Kaipaki is a small rural community situated between Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu. Its proximity to these centres and an increase in the number of people buying lifestyle blocks, has seen the community’s population increase substantially during the past few years. This put pressure on the town’s 98 year old town hall, tennis courts and cricket grounds. So in 2009 the Kaipaki Reserve Development project began.

The upgrade, partly funded by NZCT, includes upgrading the centre’s three tennis courts and its cricket field, relocating and extending its playground, developing an artificial chip and putt area and a petanque surface, installing a grass athletic track around the cricket pitch, and adding a ‘pavilion’ viewing room and changing rooms to the hall.

This work was carried out by a mixture of willing volunteers and local tradespeople. The community did lots of fundraising for the project, which was also supported by the Waipa District Council.

The hall and sports ground upgrade better enables community members of all ages to participate in sports, arts, music and community activities. Whether they are interested in social netball or hockey, bowls roll ups or athletics days, school holiday programmes or over 60s activity classes – the new Kaipaki Centre has something for everyone.

NZCT CEO Mike Knells says the trust is delighted to be able to help support this important community initiative.

“Sport and recreation are an important part of our lifestyle,” says Mr Knell. “New Zealand’s communities are at their strongest when everyone actively comes together – to take part, organise or be a vocal supporter. Sport lets us do that. We see the Kaipaki Centre as being strategically important for this area, which is why we wanted to support this project.

“NZCT is one of the biggest funders of amateur sport in New Zealand,” he says. “Local publicans help us raise funds by hosting responsible gaming operations at their pubs. Of the net proceeds they raise, we return approximately 40 % to the local community. We use our funds to support important projects that offer long-term, strategic benefits to locals. A further 30% of our net proceeds are passed to the Government in the form of taxes and levies.

“This pub gaming funding model ensures communities like Kaipaki can have the facilities and equipment they need to keep locals involved in sport.”

Last year alone NZCT distributed $38.5 million in grants to sports, community and cultural events and clubs throughout the country. NZCT is one of the largest funders of amateur sport in New Zealand, and we’re proud of it. This is why we’re known as the backbone of amateur sports in New Zealand.

We can achieve this thanks to the hard work of our venue operators and their staff in gaming venues around the country. Cheers publicans!

For more information about NZCT visit www.nzct.org.nz.

ENDS

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