HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE
27 September 2016
Free sports gear for hire to Wainuiomata families
A new initiative offered at Wainuiomata Library encourages an active lifestyle by offering sports equipment to the
community at no cost.
The Action Replay campaign offers big and small sports gear items as a free community loan. Hutt City Council Community
Sport Advisor Mark Curr says, “As summer approaches, this is a great chance for Wainuiomata families and community
groups to sample a range of sports with no cost or risk”.
The Action Replay campaign recycles sports gear and distributes it in communities where cost is a barrier to being
active. A bumper response to the programme has created lots of options for new community activity. Curr says, “While
most of this gear has been distributed for use through schools and community centres, we have made a big pile of it
available for this pilot”.
Wainuiomata Library is supporting the idea by offering the equipment through its facility. Library and Community Hub
Manager Annie Reilly says, “We might be the first library in New Zealand to loan out sports gear. Wainuiomata is really
lucky”.
The programme targets families, schools, churches and sporting groups who may not be in a position to prioritise paying
for the equipment needed to play.
Groups can borrow a range of complete sets of balls, bats, rackets, nets, and much more from Wainuiomata Library as and
when needed, and return it when they’re finished. If the programme proves to be a success, more equipment will be added,
creating more opportunities.
ENDS