Letter to the Editor Tuesday September 2, 2014

We can do it

As many are becoming aware now, the Te Hiku Sports Hub is planned for the area known as Moerua Park, council-owned land adjoining the Mangonui A&P showgrounds. Netball courts and rugby league fields are already established there, and now there are plans for football (soccer), cricket, athletics, archery and a heated indoor swimming pool to be there also.

The Kaitaia Swimming Club has the largest number of children registered in Northland, and as the present Kaitaia town pool has a life span of only four more years left, it is vital that there be another one built to take its place. A heated pool is the obvious choice, as it can be used all year round for training for competition.

An indoor pool complex will provide a 25 metre x 25 metre lap pool, a 10 x 15 metre hydrotherapy/learner pool and a 10 x 15 metre splash pool for toddlers. The complex will also include a fitness centre, club rooms with kitchen facilities, plus indoor courts for cricket and basketball. These are all essential and popular, and will generate most of the income for running the Hub.

The above-mentioned sporting codes at present do not have a permanent home, but this planned project will provide one. Also national sporting events can be brought here, and that will bring many people into the Far North, which will create good spin-offs, and we will all benefit from it.

I know there is a looming cost to our area to repair a failing sewerage system that has been neglected over the years, but life must have a balance, and a sports and recreation facility is essential also. To keep people's spirits up they must have a place for fun, to compensate for the never-ceasing problems of infrastructure that keep popping up.

This sports hub will provide all of that, a place where people can meet, compete, recover, and generally enjoy our relaxed lifestyle here in the Far North.

By donating small amounts of money gradually over the next two years through raffles, events, competitions etc, I am sure enough funds can be raised to start this project. Then the grants can be applied for from the large trust organisations that really support this type of community development.

The health and education bodies are very much behind the project, as well as all the sporting codes.

Sometimes we feel we are the forgotten ones, away up here, out of sight, out of mind, but with public support we can achieve this project which we so deserve. We are encouraged by the positive feedback from our raffle fundraising so far. There will be some exciting events coming up to continue the funding.

We hope for your support for a worthwhile cause for now and our future generations. The whole complex will be a great asset and legacy for the Far North, and will show what can be achieved through determination and 'people power'.

Thank you for all the support so far. Long may it continue.

PAT DAVIS

Spokesperson

Te Hiku Sports Hub