Sports House in the Taranaki – a model for regional sporting development
Developing the Sports House concept – partnerships
The concept of partnership has been crucial in the development of Sports House. Some of the key partnerships have been between Sport Taranaki, the RSOs and New Plymouth District Council.
Partnership with RSOs
Underpinning the Sports House model is Sport Taranaki’s approach to sport and community development. Sport Taranaki views its mission as building a professional “sports family” in the Taranaki region, which means working closely with the RSOs.
Sport Taranaki CEO, Howie Tamati, explains: “If we develop ourselves to be a more professional and effective organisation, then we must also be investing in developing our partners to being equally professional and effective in meeting their goals.”
Sport Taranaki is helping build the organisational capacity of RSOs through a programme called SportsFuture. This programme provides targeted RSOs with low cost premises in a communal, information-rich environment. On-going advice and support is immediately at hand. Sports groups no longer work in isolation and quickly learn to share best practice. When it came to securing funding for the project, this approach meant that an investor organisation could simultaneously provide support to Sport Taranaki and a host of RSOs through a single project, effectively multiplying the benefits and dividing the costs.
Partnership with New Plymouth District Council
The other key partnership in shaping the development of Sports House has been between Sport Taranaki and New Plymouth District Council (NPDC).
NPDC, along with South Taranaki District Council and Stratford District Council, is a key partner and sponsor of Sport Taranaki. The councils recognise the contribution to local communities made by RSOs and their member clubs, and wish to support Sport Taranaki in assisting these “grassroots” organisations whilst still supporting their district.
Another important aspect of the relationship between NPDC and Sport Taranaki has been NPDC’s ambitions for Yarrow Stadium to be a truly multi-sport facility. When NPDC upgraded the Yarrow Stadium, it promoted the redevelopment as a multisport facility and the Council has been an enthusiastic supporter of Sport Taranaki in bringing a wider range of RSOs to the stadium.
Updated | 14 May 2008.
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