Netball Manurewa - Bringing Value to the Community - A 'Value of Sport' Case Study
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Netball Manurewa –
Bringing Value to the
Community
A ‘Value of Sport’ Case Study
1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AUTHORS CONTACT DETAILS
We would like to acknowledge the Visitor Solutions with input from Netball Manurewa
input of the management and key management at Netball Manurewa 95 Browns Rd
informants who provided information Manurewa
and insights about the values generated Auckland 2102
by netball in Manurewa. 09-2670865
2
CONTENTS
Section One : Background and Context
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Netball Manurewa
• Summary of Value Themes
Section Two : Values from Netball
• Friendships and Networks
• Strengthening Families
• Personal growth
• ‘Mana wahine’
• Making a contribution
• Community focus
• Ownership and pride
Section Three : Summary
Appendix
3
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Introduction Sport New Zealand to assist Netball Meeting and interview results were
Manurewa to carry out the case study, compiled, summarised and fed back
Netball Manurewa are involved in and in the process to test how the to participants for their review and
this case study because they want to toolkit was being applied. additions as required.
revitalise netball in Manurewa and to
grow the benefits they know it can The final report was compiled on the
bring to individuals and groups in Methodology basis of the ‘Case Study’ template from
their community. They see netball as the ‘Value of Sport Tool Kit’. A design
a powerful tool for generating social The methodology was based on graduate was used to format the final
benefits. While not part of Netball a qualitative exploration of the report and related images. Emphasis
Manurewa, Louisa Wall - the local experiences of a small number of was placed on using images to convey
Manurewa MP and ex-Silver fern key informants identified by Netball key value themes.
- put it like this in her submission Manurewa 1. These were people well
supporting the new Netball Manurewa experienced with netball in Manurewa
Community Events Centre: and who could provide insights on
how involvement with netball had Netball Manurewa & the Community
“Netball is a wonderful and benefited them, and how they had Events Centre
successful vehicle for healthy seen it bring benefits to others. This
lifestyles; fitness; social networks; overlapped with some consideration Netball Manurewa delivers netball
player progression; role modelling; of how the new Community Events services through a local Netball
goal setting; opportunity for Centre might be making a difference. Centre which includes an indoor
advancement: and a platform to court, 12 outdoor courts (including 6
achieve and celebrate personal and Based on this core key informant with lights) a number of other rooms
team success.” knowledge resource, the overall and facilities in the building which have
approach was based on a number been developed on Auckland Council
Netball Manurewa want to build on of accessible research methods that land. This Centre has been providing
the recent boosts they have been could easily be used by others wanting access to netball for the population of
getting from the new Community to conduct their own versions of this Manurewa and neighbouring areas for
Events Centre. They want to use this case study 2. The key methods used over 30 years. Its population catchment
case study to show people the social were: covers areas of South Auckland that
benefits that are being generated. are among the fastest growing; most
These social benefits include both the • Applying the Sport New Zealand ethnically diverse; and most socio-
direct benefits to netball participants ‘Value of Sport Tool Kit’ economically and health deprived
(as players and/or volunteers), and • Meetings (with follow ups) in New Zealand. The need for more
also the indirect benefits to the wider • Phone Interviews (with follow and better sport and recreation
Manurewa Community. This case study ups) opportunities is very high in this part
is aimed at providing a key resource • Review of available background of Auckland.
for Netball Manurewa to advocate the information, including
key benefits and values their activities • Local authority planning The Events Centre has fulfilled this role
are helping generate. They can use the documents, newsletters and in the past predominantly through its
case study to advocate: submissions long established netball activity. While
• Netball Manurewa and club netball activity levels were high in the
• to the current participant and websites/Facebook pages past, a decline in facility standards over
non-participant communities • Articles on the Internet time contributed to some people
- for motivating more players, • Statistics New Zealand choosing to use other facilities such
volunteers and involvement, and population data as the Papakura Netball Centre. This
• to current and potential funders • Photo resource was accompanied by a general decline
- for achieving more financial and in netball participation overall. To start
• Netball Manurewa sourced to address this decline, and after many
in-kind support. photos from its own resources years of advocacy, funding was gained
• Specific photographs were to undertake a major upgrade of the
Sport New Zealand supported Netball also taken on 2013 finals day
Manurewa to conduct this case study Netball Centre and its outside facility
• Facebook images (with areas. This programme was planned
as part of the pilot test programme permission)
for its ‘Value of Sport Tool Kit’. Visitor as a series of stages, and Stage 1 was
Solutions was commissioned by completed in early 2013.
4
There was a deliberate intent to have the usual provision of bar, smoking While expressed here as a concept
reposition the Centre as a more area and pokies. In that respect it also from Maori culture, it applies to all
general community resource than represents something different from girls and women.
simply a netball facility, and this is the other ‘club’ venues available in • Making a contribution – the role
reflected in the new name given to the area. Feedback indicates that is played in passing on the benefits
the Centre – the Netball Manurewa increasingly bringing different groups and values to others. It’s not just
Community Events Centre. The together that wouldn’t otherwise do about getting, it’s also about giving.
community and participant response so. • Community focus – the role played
to this first stage of the upgrade has by providing a place really seen as
been very positive, and there are signs The outdoor courts are also an inclusive community centre
that use numbers and the variety of experiencing an increase in community • Ownership and pride – the role
users are beginning to expand. This will use with the college netball competition played by netball and the new
be a challenge as past users and those starting again after a three absence, centre in generating feelings of
users displaced while the upgrade was Saturday competition and week night community ownership and pride.
taking place (e.g. badminton) have training use. Informally the courts are
found alternative sites elsewhere. But used widely for exercise and a range of These themes are overlapping and are
the features of the improved facility games. There is still scope to increase not listed in any order of priority as
quality, community orientation and the participation in these competitions all are important. And their relative
its strategic central location to bus, with more participants in more teams. importance will vary anyway for
rail, and road links (with extensive car different people in different situations.
parking) are expected to draw some The purpose of this case study is
back. For many, that convenience close to help advocate for more netball
to home is a key factor. participation and more use of the
Events Centre by the community. The
Use of the indoor courts and following value themes identified in
spaces is now also showing signs of this case study summarise some of
increase in both numbers and variety. the reasons why people may want to
Premier grade netball takes place consider doing this.
on Wednesdays; while the regional
netball league games occur on x
Fridays. Kid’s rugby league training and
netball training occur on Tuesday and Summary of Value Themes
Thursday nights. Sundays are booked
by two churches and there has been The benefits and values identified
provision for the return of volleyball from involvement with netball, Netball Manurewa Netball Centre
and badminton. Office space is rented Manurewa, and the new Events Centre
by the Maori Women’s Welfare League are summarised under the following
and, on event days, there are spaces also value themes:
set aside for the local Maori Wardens.
There are holiday programmes run • Friendships and Networks – the role
in the school holidays, including free played in the creation and growth
breakfast and lunch. And on most of personal, social and professional
Saturday nights the hall is now booked friendships and networks.
for social functions. These used to be • Strengthening Families – the role
predominantly Pacific functions, but are played in the growth and strength of
now used for the weddings, birthdays families through intergenerational
and other gatherings by many sectors activity involvement and sharing.
of the community (e.g. Middle-eastern, • Personal growth – the role played
Indian). On Sundays there are two in growing as a person, and
church groups that also hire the indoor as someone positive in the
venue. community. It is also linked to 1
Subject to time and availability – not all those asked
were able to participate.
‘Mana Wahine’ (see below) 2
The scale of the case study was kept at a moderate
While having high quality indoor • ‘Mana wahine’ – the role played in level, to be accessible to sports groups to complete
spaces: café, catering, bathroom and growing girls into strong women.
some if not all of the research and reporting tasks
themselves. In this case the option to bring in an
changing facilities, the Centre does not external provider was taken.
5
VALUE THEME 1
SECTION TWO: Friendships &
Networks
VALUES FROM NETBALL
This section summarises value This relates to the role played by Some of the main benefits are the
responses in more detail. It is based on netball and its Manurewa venue in friendships made through being
the responses given by the respective the creation and growth of personal, involved. I have made a lot of friends
key informants3 under each of the social and professional friendships and and contacts through netball and
summary themes. networks. These may be short term some of these friendships have also
through to lifetime connections. As continued outside of netball.
stated by one respondent the different
types of friendships generated can be
“for a season, a reason, or a lifetime”. There are many benefits but it’s also
Tied in with many of the comments the little things as well, being part
made about friendships was a concept of something bigger than yourself,
of there being a wider social family – learning interpersonal skills,
a “family of friends”. A selection of and making great friendships of
some of the typical comments made is different types – some friendships
listed below: 4 are for a season, a reason or a
lifetime.
I am part of a huge netball family.
I loved playing it and I also love
watching it, supporting it and Netball relationships give a lot of
being part of it – it’s a whole family people a safety and security net, a
experience. The game carries so circle of supportive people outside
much more with it – it’s not just the home.
a game.
It’s about being part of the netball
You can build family connections family
and groups of lifetime friends. It’s
all a lifetime family and connection
together. I believe women naturally
gravitate towards a sport that
fosters family and connection, and
I’m still involved with women I
played with as a young mum 40
years ago.
The Husbands and Wives Club
started as a group of young mums
back in 1986 who just wanted to
get back in to playing with friends.
It developed into mixed teams
as more husbands and guys got
involved. It also diversified with
some basketball and touch teams
as more kids got involved. It has
always been a very friends and
family-oriented club, and of the 7
original mums 2 are still going.
3
Key informant contacts were identified by Netball
Manurewa.They are listed in the Appendix along with
brief descriptions of their relevant backgrounds of
Netball in Manurewa.
4
Note that many comments address multiple themes,
and some are also noted under these other themes.
6
VALUE THEME 2
Strengthening
Families
This relates to the role played by I started coaching with my With the school teams, some of the
netball and its Manurewa venue in the daughter’s teams when they were parents get involved with the sports
growth and strength of families through at school, and then just carried on. teams, first through supporting or
intergenerational activity involvement volunteering, and that gives them
and sharing. In this context, ‘family’ a purposeful reason to get more
could also include people’s ‘families I’m also involved for my daughters involved with the school. It gives
of friends’. A selection of some of the as well. It starts when they’re still many more confidence to come
typical comments made is listed below: in prams on the side-lines. I wanted along to schools and get involved in
to give them the chance to have other ways, or to talk with schools
It started with me looking after the opportunities I had through about their kids and education.
the kids while my wife played, but netball. So I coach through the age- Without that sports connection
soon I started playing myself. So I groups and it keeps me in the sport this would be less likely for some
started out playing for fun but then at a really involved level. parents. Netball is often the first
got more involved in more serious step. Because it is every week we
competition and tournaments. As are able to develop a relationship
time passed I got more involved I have daughters and I want them with parents and then get them
with coaching my daughter’s to have the same playing and involved in helping with other
teams, then other teams and I’ve learning opportunities as I had. It sports and activities within the
been the premier team coach for gives them something positive to school.
the last 15 years. do and helps fill their time. It really
gives them an alternative activity
to get involved in.
It’s all about the inter-generational
sharing with children and
grandchildren. I couldn’t imagine The centre provides a positive
life without involvement with environment for the children and
netball. I love it. their families to be together.
I’ve watched, supported, coached You can build family connections
and travelled with all my 5 and groups of lifetime friends. It’s
daughters with netball over many all a lifetime family and connection
years to different age-group together. I believe women naturally
competitions. gravitate towards a sport that
fosters family and connection, and
I’m still involved with women I
Some parents have also got involved played with as a young mum 40
with teams through coaching or years ago.
just supporting and volunteering,
and that has given some of them
more confidence and abilities. Some
of this has included doing training
and getting qualifications.
I started out looking after my
daughters on the side-line while
their mother played, and then
I started to play as well, and
eventually so did they. We’re all in
it.
7
VALUE THEME 3
Personal Growth
This relates to the role played by Growth in confidence and really came out of their shells. They
netball and its Manurewa venue in leadership are two ways that many developed better communication
growing as a person and as someone girls have developed through and interpersonal skills by getting
positive in the community. It relates netball (at least in part). Some of outside their comfort zone. Seeing
to having new experiences; meeting this has included doing training them going from being followers to
challenges; trying new things; getting and getting qualifications. leaders is one of the most rewarding
skills and the confidence to use them; Some parents have also got involved things about being involved in
learning new ways of doing things; with teams through coaching or netball coaching.
making better choices; having better just supporting and volunteering,
behaviours; competing and striving.This and that has given many of them
is linked to ‘Mana Wahine’ but includes more confidence and abilities. Being in an executive position I
benefits to people of all genders, ages found I had to deal with all sorts
and cultures.This was the biggest single of people with different abilities,
type of theme described, and a larger One young guy was an older cultures, agendas – sometimes
selection of some comments made is brother of a girl that played. We it would be people who were
listed below: needed umpires and he agreed to challenging your ideas or decisions
go to the classes so he could be one – it was senior management really.
Personal growth has been a big of the school umpires. He is now Working in committees was
part of it. I’ve had many friends a senior umpire and very involved challenging but I learned a lot.
who have got involved in coaching, in netball.
skills and leadership in ways they
never knew they could. One of the big things is seeing
For a collegiate team I coached I the benefits people get from being
insisted they all attend the umpires involved. That includes things
Once people get talked into getting classes – I wanted to make sure they like speaking in front of others,
involved in coaching for example, understood all the rules – and they organising events, managing things.
they get trained and challenged and gained a respect and appreciation It can make people break out of
they get huge confidence that they for umpires. A couple of those themselves, really empowers them.
can be more than just a mum at girls coached younger teams and They realise they can do things
home. They can be a coach, umpire, some have gone on to do sports and they can take that confidence
committee member, treasurer, study at tertiary level. to other aspects of their lives. Many
manager – really doing things that started out not thinking they could
take a big step out of the home. Forty do something and now they’re
years ago women stayed at home We had 6 staff members from leading the way.
and cooked and looked after the the school complete the umpiring
family. But with more involvement classes one year – most had never
there are many avenues for growth played netball in their life (3 were I am right into coaching now and
from traveling; getting lots of skills; males) – they went on to play in an I’m doing a Sport Science Degree
interacting with many different indoor competition at MIT (Manukau Institute of
people, having to plan and take Technology). It’s not something
leadership. People can develop new I ever thought I’d do when I was
capabilities. It can take them many The girls that get more involved young. Getting so involved in
other places both physically and in develop more skills and confidence, netball made that happen.
skill and confidence. It can really and share that with others in the
grow women. community.
I started very young and I really
liked the competition. I was very
It’s great seeing kids growing as I’ve seen the skill and capabilities competitive and liked the challenge.
people as well as players that some players have got from I’ve played in lots of different
being in netball. I’ve coached some competitions and tournaments
kids through the age-groups since right to the highest levels, and I’m
they were about 6, and they had still just as passionate about netball
quite humble beginnings. Most of and sport as ever. And through
them were shy little flowers and playing at Manurewa back in my
quite timid, but over time they day we would could get to play
8
the best. Manurewa was strong in codes of spectator and participant My daughter loves netball with the
netball and all the best players were behaviour. So parents supporting same passion as me and that seems
with normal clubs – not like the or working with netball are to keep her going well. So I let her
franchises we have now. encouraged into better behaviours, play lots of netball and Netball
and that provides better role model Manurewa helps offer an alternative
examples to the kids. It reinforces to some of the other options kids
I ended up doing things that I the behaviour guidelines the kids could choose. Some of those can be
wouldn’t otherwise have done. For are exposed to at school. quite scary. That’s not to say that its
me public speaking was a big thing, easy though as netball can be pretty
and I wasn’t keen on standing up expensive with costs and travel,
and talking, but now I’m used to The club culture is also good and but the passion it creates for your
speaking to groups of 500 at times. helps to create and support good daughters and the payback you get
behaviour and growth. are worth it. It’s hard though for
lots of kids, and the clubs always
Health is also a big benefit. Back a have to do fundraising. The costs
few years most of our uniforms I sometimes think netball saved can be petty high but it’s worth it if
had to be around size 16, now they’re my life. Because of netball I avoided it’s going to help keep the kids off
more like size 10 to 12. The women some of the trouble young people the streets and teach them helpful
are fitter, faster more healthy. Part can get into. Being involved with life skills.
of it also is that it is smokefree in netball influenced some of the
the netball centre. There isn’t even choices I made, and took me in
a bar like in many sports venues. a different direction from some The regular Saturday morning
of the kids my age back then. It sport and training gives a routine
filled up my time and gave me and requires discipline and
I have daughters and I want them something to do that I was really motivation, and that seems to work.
to have the same playing and passionate about. I loved it so I put For many kids sport is their vehicle
learning opportunities as I had. It in the time to play and train and for getting better things going.
gives them something positive to get involved when I could have
do and helps fill their time. It really been doing something else, maybe
gives them an alternative activity getting into trouble. The main benefit I got was that it
to get involved in. really saved me at a time I could
have gone down a different path. I
One of the big benefits is that it really loved it – still do in fact. And
There is a simple code of conduct helps keep kids busy, and keeps I want to be passing that on.
in place for all players and them out of getting into trouble.
spectators which is enforced by Youth can get in to trouble but a lot
the community and also the of the youth around here are very
Maori Wardens who are on-site. good at sport, and getting involved
This has changed the behaviour in sport shows them that there
of the spectators where the verbal are options and that they do have
abuse of umpires has decreased skills. Netball is HUGE for girls in
significantly. The code of conduct is doing this.
- No Violence; No Bad Language; No
negative behaviour from parents
towards umpires; No smoking Netball Manurewa has helped
Involvement with netball goes along some top players get their start –
with codes of behaviour – there are like Temepara George
9
VALUE THEME 4
‘Mana Wahine’
The role played by netball and its My involvement grew from
Manurewa venue in growing girls into wanting to promote healthy living,
strong women. This relates to instilling family and mana wahine. Netball
self-awareness confidence and pride, here has provided a base to apply
empowering young women, and these principles and to grow them
building their strength. While this was into something more on-going.
expressed here as a concept from And it is very well set up for these
Maori culture, it is present in Pacific to be shared and reinforced with
cultures and also in other cultures family and friends.
through their concepts of feminism,
empowerment and women’s rights.
This overlaps strongly with Theme 3 One of the big benefits is that it
(Personal growth), but is distinguished helps keep kids busy, and keeps
here as being more specific to women them out of getting into trouble.
and to netball. A selection of some of Youth can get in to trouble but a lot
the typical comments made is listed of the youth around here are very
below: good at sport, and getting involved
in sport shows them that there
My involvement with netball is are options and that they do have
also because of what it brings to skills. Netball is HUGE for girls in
young Maori women – socialisation, doing this.
empowers them to be strong,
gives them confidence and skills,
builds on their cultural base – all Some girls have stayed involved
represented as ‘mana wahine’. and got in to coaching and
umpiring, giving something back
to the community
The girls that get more involved
develop more skills and confidence,
and share that with others in the The girls that get more involved
community. develop more skills and confidence,
Supporting netball is also about and share that with others in the
promoting health and ‘mana community.
wahine’ values with young Maori
women and girls. Netball is a
beautiful way to help teach young
Maori girls how to be strong Maori
women.
Growth in confidence and
leadership are two ways that many
girls have developed through
netball (at least in part). Some of
this has included doing training
and getting qualifications.
1011
VALUE THEME 5
Making a
Contribution
The role played by netball and its I like having an opportunity to Manurewa boasts a high numbers
Manurewa venue in enabling people share things I enjoy. of males, contributing to the game.
to make a contribution by passing on It’s fantastic for whanau and the
the benefits they had experienced. As community to see more men
stated by one informant “It’s not just I’m keen to help give others the involved with the sport.
about getting, it’s also about giving”. opportunity to experience the fun
People generated additional benefits from netball, especially own family
to themselves and to others by making members and school kids .Off the top of my head I have
a contribution. This emphasised the to mention a club that has been
role of volunteers in some comments. affiliated to Netball Manurewa
A selection of some of the typical I coach indoor over summer – since I was in primary school. I
comments made is listed below: mostly kids - and outdoor over personally have no affiliation to
winter, which is a mix of senior St Annes, however they’re a club/
and junior teams. school that have been involved
I have 5 daughters and I wanted with Netball Manurewa for a huge
to share my good experience of amount of time, from their little
netball, and it’s just carried on. I want to pass that experience league teams through to Senior
on to others, to get them the level. The continuous talent that
opportunities I had. So being in club/school produce is exciting for
I played at different clubs, but coaching is a big part of that and the game. It’s evident that netball
always wanted to come back to be it’s kept me in the sport. is a popular sport in their school
involved at Manurewa because it and is driven by the countless
had been so good for me, and now I volunteers that assist to run their
coach the kids. I have daughters and I want them club/school.
to have the same playing and
learning opportunities as I had. It
Probably a big personal satisfaction gives them something positive to It was important to see the role
is from the results you are do and helps fill their time. It really voluntary contributions made as
part of. That includes coaching gives them an alternative activity well, all those voluntary efforts are
the girls at different levels and to get involved in. important, although not everyone
having successes in grades and wants to do everything. Some
tournaments, and seeing some of are just happy in the netball side
the girls really excelling. It’s important to also recognise of things, maybe coaching or
that volunteers are a key part of organising netball. But there are
delivering grassroots community other roles that are important
And it’s also about the association sport. which involve administration,
with people and the satisfaction dealing with council, funding,
you get from them enjoying what compliance etc. which also
you’ve helped deliver. Netball itself is a culture for many have to be done. That wasn’t for
including myself, the love of the everyone. It’s probably important
game inspires all the volunteers to recognise that and keep the
One of the big benefits for me is involved with the game (which netball and management sides
seeing the benefits people get from are many) to continue passing it separate. Many people accept that
being involved. That includes things forward to the up and coming. split. And it is particularly relevant
like speaking in front of others, Saturday mornings you see kids’ if you’re running the netball centre,
organising events, managing things. teachers, whanau and extended especially when dealing with
It can make people break out of whanau volunteering to help its management and operation,
themselves, really empowers them. make the sport possible. Without organising events, managing rental
They realise they can do things the countless volunteers, there use, other sports users, community
and they can take that confidence would be no teams especially users, and all the communication,
to other aspects of their lives. Many in the younger grades. What is negotiation and management that
started out not thinking they could also impressive about Netball goes with that.
do something and now they’re Manurewa is the number of fathers
leading the way. that are involved in coaching,
umpiring, managing etc. Netball
1213
VALUE THEME 6
Community Focus
The role played by netball and its often the first step. Because it is it found people didn’t want
Manurewa venue in creating the every week we are able to develop Netball Manurewa to shift; there
feeling of a real inclusive community a relationship with parents and was a strong local community
centre with many community linkages. then get them involved in helping connection. It was identified that a
It relates to familiarity; good access; with other sports and activities shift of location would have left a
links to other parts of the community; within the school. As more people lot of users groups without a home
and its role as a type of venue/place experience it they see things that and they would have had to find
different from any other social venues they could use the Centre for, so its another place.
in the area. A selection of some of the utilisation is increasing. It really is
typical comments made is listed below: an alternative to other social venues
out there as it is good quality and Netball in Manurewa used to be
The netball centre has had a big doesn’t have smoking, drinking or really strong, but it dropped off a bit,
effect on the community. If you pokies. Though people could have largely due to our old centre being
didn’t know Manurewa you would a temporary bar I think, but there pretty rough. Many went to play
have no idea there was such a good are no facilities for a bar. through the Papakura Centre. But
community centre. It is developing with the new Netball Manurewa
into a real focal point. Centre it can only improve – it’s
The netball centre is really a big so much better than what we used
benefit to the community after the to have, much better quality and it
The netball centre has also become upgrade. has the great central location. It’s so
a significant part of the Manurewa easy to get to by walking or public
community. Because of its central transport, just like when I started
location, safety, parking, and quality It is probably the backbone of a to get involved.
facilities it is highly utilised. It gets lot of community groups and
used for weekend netball, school their activities. It gets used for
netball, and a variety of other many different activities including I started playing from a very young
community uses like church on Karate, Badminton, Aerobics etc. It age. It was something that I could
Sundays and weddings (recently also gets used for school holiday do easily as the Manurewa netball
for huge Indian and Middle Eastern programmes. clubs were good and the netball
weddings). It does bring different There is still not as much daytime centre was in easy walking distance.
groups together that wouldn’t use as we’d like, and there isn’t as I could walk to games and training.
otherwise do so. much school use outside of holiday That made it very accessible. The
programmes as we’d like public transport was also good
which made it easier for others to
Meeting people from different come to play.
backgrounds was important. And A key part of its value is its very
it did result in some friendships central location. Kids can just walk
and sense of being part of the there and there is plenty of parking The new netball centre is very
community. and public transport access. important though. It’s much better
than what we used to have – the
facilities were pretty bad and you
With the school teams, some of the The general feeling in the needed skis for the floor! And it
parents get involved with the sports community is that it is awesome, still has the same great location.
teams first through supporting or and it got real support from the Kids can still walk or come on the
volunteering, and that gives them Local Board and Council. bus or train. Without that it would
a purposeful reason to get more be a lot harder. There was an idea to
involved with the school. Having shift netball Manurewa to a multi-
been involved at the netball gives There was a time when the idea sport hub at another park, but
many parents more confidence was to shift netball to a sports hub there was a petition to stop that
to come along to schools and get already happening at Mountford as this location is much better for
involved in other ways, or to talk Park. But we felt it was less us. I expect that numbers involved
with schools about their kids and accessible with less parking, and a will increase because of this, and
education. Without that sports lot of the existing use would make maybe some of those who went to
connection this would be less it crowded. There was stakeholder play through the Papakura Centre
likely for some parents. Netball is consultation undertaken and might come back to Manurewa.
14The club culture is also good and
helps to create and support good
behaviour and growth.
It’s getting more diverse. This
was predominately a Pakeha
community many years ago which
was reflected in the committee
and player membership make
up. This has now changed to the
community being majority Pacific
Island and Maori community
which also now reflects the
makeup of the committee and
player membership.
It gets used by many different
groups outside of sport. There are
Pacific churches and there have
recently been some huge Indian
and Middle-Eastern community
weddings.
15VALUE THEME 7
Ownership & Pride
The role played by netball and its There is no other good quality
Manurewa venue in generating local facilities in the area so the new
pride in the community.This is reflected netball facility is also being used
in less vandalism; people taking care by the community as a function
of facilities; better behaviour in the centre. There are all kinds of
area; advocating use of the facilities to uses, like the free school holiday
others; using the facilities more often; programmes for 40 children that
and more diverse user groups. While also provides breakfast and lunch.
not large pride is present and growing.
A selection of some of the typical
comments made is listed below: It provides a really good and
obvious location for the Maori
The physical upgrade to the netball Women’s Welfare League Offices.
facility has contributed to more We share a lot of goals with Netball
community pride. The old facilities Manurewa and we have such a
were pretty run down and got a good central location here.
lot of vandalism. The new facilities
have been treated well so far in the
last year since the developments Netball teaches more than just
started being completed. the sport alone; the values and life
skills that netball offers are crucial
to the community. Kids and adults
It is more valued by the community alike for that matter learn respect,
and there is a greater sense of friendships, discipline and many
ownership. The old facilities were other interpersonal skills which all
not treated well, but it is different transfer back into the community.
now and they are well looked after. Really, netball is used as a vehicle
to teach life.
As more people experience it they
see things that they could use it Netball in Manurewa used to be
for, so its utilisation is increasing. really strong but it dropped off a bit,
It really is an alternative to other largely due to our old centre being
social venues out there as it is good pretty rough. Many went to play
quality and doesn’t have smoking, through the Papakura Centre. But
drinking or pokies. with the new Netball Manurewa
Centre it can only improve – it’s
so much better than what we used
Involvement with netball goes to have, much better quality and it
along with codes of behaviour – has the great central location. It’s so
for example codes of spectator easy to get to by walking or public
behaviour. So parents supporting transport, just like when I started
or working with netball are to get involved.
encouraged into better behaviours,
and that provides better role model
examples to the kids. It reinforces
the behaviours the kids are exposed
to at school.
16SECTION THREE:
SUMMARY
The seven main value themes population that is significantly
identified here are clearly a summary growing in numbers and diversity
of a wide diversity of different benefits • there are few other venues in
and values to different people. Many the area offering the range and
of these benefits and values have quality of facilities and community
been well established through the opportunities
history of Netball Manurewa, and the
opportunity now exists to increase Recognising these community strengths,
and enhance them through the impact this case study has been undertaken
of the new Community Events Centre. to illustrate the range and depth of
Not only can this revitalise Netball in social benefits that can be generated
Manurewa, but it can also embed the from supporting growth in local sports
existence of a real community centre participation and community uses at
– somewhere that everyone can come the Netball Manurewa Community
to and use. This can be built from Events Centre.
the strong foundation of community
involvement that is still clearly evident
in local sport and culture.
The key challenges are to turn around
some of the trends that have been
negatively affecting both grass-roots
sport and community participation.
These are mainly related to the
decline of team numbers, the decline
of volunteers and the availability of
community hubs. For example, fewer
coaches and helpers have resulted
in fewer teams being able to play.
Manurewa is part of a wider low socio
economic area so a lot of parents
have to work in multiple jobs on the
weekends and weekdays and don’t
have time to volunteer. There are
also issues from the cost of transport,
although the Event Centre’s strategic
location is ideal for public access. A
decrease in gaming funding for school
team uniforms has also left some
schools unable to provide uniforms, so
some kids and teams cannot compete.
Some of these issues are quite simple
to address, and would require only a
little targeted assistance to address.
And to aid that there are also some
key community strengths that can be
built on:
• there is clearly also a lot of latent
motivation in the community to
do better for its kids.
• the new Events Centre is highly
strategically located in the
central transport hub of a young
17APPENDIX 1 –
KEY INFORMANTS
The key informants for this case study Tania Low
and their backgrounds in Manurewa Tania has been involved in netball for
netball are noted in brief below: many years, starting out a long playing
record as a junior at Manurewa and
Devida Hati-Ross coming back there after many years at
Devida is the Game and Facility Co- senior level in other clubs to involve
ordinator at Netball Manurewa. She her family and provide coaching. To
has worked at the centre since 2004 develop her coaching further she is
and prior to that was involved through currently completing a Sport Science
being a player at the centre; being a Degree at the Manukau Institute of
past committee member (starting Technology.
at age18); and being a former Vice
President of the centre Anet Conroy
Anet has been involved with netball in
Denise Ewe Manurewa for over 20 years. She has
Denise has been involved in helping been a player, coach, umpire and also
deliver netball in the Counties Manukau coordinator for school teams from
and greater Auckland for 33 years, and Wiri Central Primary, where she is also
played before that. This has involved Deputy-Principal. Beyond netball she
being a coach, manager, advocate and has been active in supporting touch,
coordinator. She is currently President rugby, league and tennis. Roles have
of Tamaki Makaurau Poi Tarawhiti included treasurer of the tennis club.
(Auckland Maori Netball); and is the
Maori Women’s Welfare League Area Kay McIntyre
Representative for Tamaki Makaurau Kay is Project Manager for the Netball
(their offices are located in the Events Manurewa Community Events
Centre). In addition she was Vice Centre Development. She provided
President of the Papakura Netball considerable background information
Centre for 8 years. and comment which complements the
interview responses.
Patrick Maxwell
Pat has been involved with playing,
coaching and supporting netball in
Manurewa for around 30 years. He
started out coaching his daughters but
began playing himself; has been part of
the Husbands and Wives Netball Club
formed in 1986 (now H&W United);
and has been their premier team coach
for 15 years. He has spent a lot of time
involved in club committee and netball
administration work, and is a recent
past President of Netball Manurewa.
18APPENDIX 2 – MANUREWA
LOCAL BOARD LINKS
MANUREWA LOCAL BOARD
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
representativesbodies/LocalBoards/
Manurewalocalboard/
MANUREWA COMMUNITY
PROFILE
http://www.aucklandcouncil.
govt.nz/representativesbodies/
LocalBoards/Manurewalocalboard/
localboardprofile
1920
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