Free sports in city for youth

Free Parking Rotorua recently took some young people to Auckland to meet and train with the New Zealand Breakers.

A Rotorua youth programme has been doorknocking to let families know there are free sporting activities available in the community for young people in response to the growing issue of youth fighting in the city centre.

Free Parking Rotorua organised sports events four days a week taking turns to be based in Fordlands, Eastern suburbs, Koutu and Western Heights areas. They are part of Te Waiariki Purea Trust and regularly run basketball, volleyball and touch games in parks in each neighbourhood with music playing and the occasional barbecue.

Youth worker Talal Alshermari was out in Fordlands yesterday going door-to-door informing parents' of teenagers of what service they offered. The activities aimed to engage young people from the age of 14 onwards, but Mr Alshermari said they had between 50-85 children take part each day ranging in ages from 6 to 21.

Last week a brawl erupted near City Focus with up to 20 young people involved. This month 15 teens were arrested after a fight in Kuirau Park and up to 40 youth were seen fighting in the city centre on Boxing Day.

"Free Parking Rotorua is about re-engaging youth back into sports, instead of being involved in other stuff," Mr Alshermari said.

"I was a youth once and know what it's like to be bored.

"Those brawls motivated the whole group to let people know that there's this programme here, it's free and it's for young people."

Mr Alshermari said the response had been "amazing" as he explained what they were about and collected contact details. The group offered a social programme with their sports, but also offered structured skills sessions such as last year's rugby coaching with former All Black Hika Reid.

They recently joined forces with Te Waiariki Purea Trust youth-based programmes, Bully Free Bro and Piritahi to take a busload of young people to train with the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland and were able to meet former rugby league player Monty Betham.

"It's about showing young people a different side of life, to give them an alternative, introducing them to positive people to show them they can reach for their goals and achieve," Mr Alshermari said.

Free Parking Rotorua activities start at 4.30pm from Monday to Thursday each week.

Today, they will be based at Puketewhero Park in Owhata.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/FreeParkingRotorua.