Over the past 18 months, a new approach has focussed on getting kids to kick the screens and instead, get outside and play.

Supported by Sport NZ, the Neighbourhood Play System brings together a school or kura, local organisations and community groups who work together to bring to life play projects that suit the needs of their tamariki and communities. 

The Neighbourhood Play System provides a blueprint to identify and address opportunities and barriers for tamariki to play in their school or neighbourhood.

Sport Waitākere has evolved the Neighbourhood Play System across a number of West Auckland communities, taking a systems approach to help establish play opportunities which not only meet the needs of tamariki, but are designed by tamariki.

Through Te Kura O Pātiki Neighbourhood Play System, which places tamariki at the centre of the process, new opportunities have been identified for play in the school and surrounding neighbourhood.  The aim is to embed a range of elements through school grounds, footpaths, streets, alleyways, greenspaces, waterways, industrial zones, marae, churches and shops, to promote play every day.

Pauline Butt, Play Systems Advisor for Sport Waitākere, says tamariki have been crucial to the success of the Neighbourhood Play System.

“We are getting information and feedback directly from the children.  They can tell us where they play, how they play and what’s preventing them from playing more at school and in their neighbourhood,” says Pauline.

Playing locally is not as easy as it sounds.  Children shared some of the barriers to play such as ongoing traffic incidents, family pressures to do chores and that some areas are just plain boring with not enough to do.

The list of improvements that they would like to see included spaces beautified, nature play, more water elements to play, better lighting, higher standard of playgrounds, more basketball courts, cleaner toilets and safer ways to travel.  It was also requested that there be more opportunities in schools for both Māori and Pasifika play.

In response to this brief, Sport Waitākere set about putting the wheels in motion to provide more play opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi through a range of initiatives.

Together with Te Kura O Pātiki (Rosebank School), Sport Waitākere and 30 community members held a meeting with Auckland Transport to discuss traffic safety improvements to help children move around the community.  Initiatives include a raised crossing, slow speed marking and traffic signal timing.  Auckland Transport is moving forward with reviewing the traffic signal timing, carrying out the slow speed marking now that the road has been resealed and a decision is forthcoming on the raised pedestrian crossing.

Te Kura o Pātiki has received $10,000 from Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa for development of play spaces around the Te Whānau o Pātiki (dual language unit).  This funding allows the kura to develop a traditional play space. They will also receive equipment for such things as ki o rahi and rakau sticks. Tamariki from the unit are visiting the Mara Hūpara at Mt Roskill to gain further ideas thanks to Grassroots funding.

Community group, I Love Avondale, has received $39,000 from Tū Manawa funding for a wide variety of activations operating from the Pātiki Hub at the Eastdale Reserve.  These include chess clubs, holiday activities such as rock painting, loose parts play with Junky Monkeys, touch rugby, women’s only programmes and dance and movement programmes as well as ki o rahi.

The Pātiki Hub also has a Gear Up box which has sports and play equipment available to all groups utilising the hub.

Recently through further funding from Foundation North, I Love Avondale has been able to purchase a variety of backyard games and sports equipment to support events they are involved in across the wider Avondale area. These include regular night markets and community gatherings which provide further play opportunities for tamariki.

Pauline says there is a noticeable increased vibrancy in the community as people are enjoying their local area more and children are getting out to play.

“There is a real sense of community – a recent example is Pātiki Hub has gone from grey roller doors to vibrant Pacific colours – and it feels like the place is really coming alive,” says Pauline.  “This is all thanks to the tamariki and their enthusiasm for making their world a better place to play – we just help to make it happen.”

Article added: Monday 06 May 2024