City opens arms and homes

Maree and David Cvitanovich are moving into the camping grounds for a week so the Oakura Primary School team can stay in their house while they compete at the Aims Games in Tauranga - another nine families in the city were doing the same. Photo / George Novak

Schools are spending upwards of $20,000 dollars so their teams can take part in the Aims Games - providing a major boost to the Tauranga economy, but stretching the accommodation sector to the limit.

Accommodation was so in demand that some families were moving out of their homes so teams had a place to stay while they competed.

Aims Games tournament director Vicki Semple said 10 families were moving out of their homes for the week so teams could stay there while Te Puke Intermediate, Tauranga Intermediate, Aquinas College and Papamoa College families were billeting.

There were no plans to cap the number of competitors or schools attending the event, she said.

"We've just had to get creative, we never say 'no' and even with a few last-minute hiccups, we've been able to find accommodation for everyone who needs it. We had a team planning to stay in Rotorua who we've been able to find space for here and the furthest any team has to travel, that I know of, is one basing themselves in Waihi Beach ... but that's because they love it out there."

The only thing limiting them this year was the court and turf space for tennis and hockey, she said.

Matua residents Maree and David Cvitanovich were swapping their house for two caravans at Mount Maunganui Camping Grounds so a team of up to 17 from Oakura Primary School could stay.

The couple, who own Paramount Hire Group, sponsor the event and were keen to provide affordable accommodation and help out.

"It's a fantastic event and Oakura Primary School is from a small community of 1500 so it's great they have the opportunity to participate."

Auckland's St Kentigern College sports co-ordinator Andrew Mailei said the school had four teams as well as individual pupils competing at Aims.

Its squad consisted of 64 kids with an average cost of $500 per student, or $32,000.

They were staying at Cameron Rd Thermal Motel and had been fielding teams for four years, Mr Mailei said.

"It is a great experience for our kids ... we come down to compete as much as participate."

Whangarei Intermediate School deputy principal Wiremu Rankin said the school had budgeted $25,000 for its team of 64 which would compete in rugby league, netball, football, basketball and hockey.

It had been attending Aims since 2009 and would stay at the Huria Marae in Judea.

"It's a cheaper form of accommodation for us and we are very lucky to be there as its very modern and comfortable. The kids love Aims because its tough competition and a great chance to network with other schools."

Dunedin North Intermediate deputy principal Greg Lees said it would cost $18,000 to send 26 kids to the Aims Games, but they had sold 1256 dozen cheese rolls to help fund the trip.

It took a team of 14 kids in 2013 for the first time and said now they planned to attend every year if Papamoa College continued to billet the team.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief Rhys Arrowsmith said Aims was an Olympic-proportion event that booked out most accommodation and radiated spending across the region.

NZCT Aims Games

*228 schools from around New Zealand will field teams
*The event runs in Tauranga from Sunday September 7 until Friday September 12
*The Opening Ceremony on Sunday at the ASB Park Arena is sold out
*More than 10,000 athletes, managers and supporters will attend
*The tournament covers 17 sporting codes

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