By LAUREN OWENS
Five holiday sports programmes for Tauranga children have been cancelled due to a lack in numbers, prompting Sport Bay of Plenty to hammer home the importance of being active.
Hockey, rugby, netball, soccer and self defence courses set for this week were called off by Tauranga YMCA.
A minimum of 15-20 children - who would have received training tips - were needed each day but only 10 signed up for each sport.
The cancellations left dance and film production as the only YoZone courses run this week.
Sport Bay of Plenty has reacted to the news saying it is vital to encourage children to be active, especially in the holidays.
Heidi Lichtwark, Sport BOP sector development manager, said exercise did not have to be hard work or expensive.
"A lot of messages we give out to families and children is that this is a good opportunity to get out there and be active by playing in the backyard or playing some sports.
"It all adds up. Studies have shown a decline in physical activity among children."
Carl Hetherington, YMCA holiday programme co-ordinator, said it was disappointing to cancel the one-day courses for children nine to 13 years old.
"It cost $30 a day so it's not a money issue. For those who could not afford the fee there is a subsidy programme. We really have to look at it next holidays and see how we can make it work. It wasn't worth running the programmes with so few numbers.
"I think due to the fact winter sports don't start until after the school holidays, a lot of parents don't think about it," she said.
However, not all children are shunning activity.
Douron Miedema, of Adventurous Minds NZ, has run a holiday programme for school children for the past four years.
This Easter, he offered a programme of swimming, kayaking, abseiling and bushwalking at Ngatuhoe Lodge in the Kaimai Range. He said 16 Bay children had taken the challenge and enjoyed an active school holiday.