Basketball invades Whanganui as Hoops in Schools programme cements 64th hoop – and more to come!

Two primary schools in Whanganui and one in Marton are the latest region to tap into the Basketball New Zealand Hoops in Schools programme, which funds fit-for-purpose hoops into schools. The programme has now placed 64 hoops into 32 schools. Other regions that have benefitted include south Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Eastern Bay of Plenty.  At least two more regions are soon to be announced.

Each project is done in collaboration with local community organisations. This most recent instalment was a collaboration between Basketball New Zealand, Basketball Whanganui, Sport Whanganui and supported by the Lion Foundation. It resulted with the students of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Atihaunui-ā-pāpārangi, Churton School and Marton Junction School shooting hoops.

The six hoops were officially unveiled in August, just before lockdown. Like all the other events, some of our leading national representatives were there to celebrate with the kids. On this occasion, Tall Blacks Tom Abercrombie and Derone Raukawa and Tall Ferns star Charlisse Leger-Walker were on hand to help the schools launch their new state of the art hoops – running drills and mingling with the tamariki, teachers and parents.

Basketball New Zealand project lead, Dan Dawick, says with the rapid growth in participation and increasing popularity of the sport, there still remains some real challenges to cater for this growth.

“We go where local communities can back the programme and help secure funding, but we like to target areas that have low participation, particularly within communities that are deprived of good facilities and equipment. We have seen proof of the success of this project – if we put these hoops in, it brings the community together, and more of our tamariki and rangatahi are physically active while having fun,” says Dawick.

Marton Junction School Principal, Vanessa Te Ua, says the new hoops has the school’s courts are often full of life over the weekends since the new hoops showed up.

“For years our students were disadvantaged in accessing basketball facilities and equipment. Thanks to the Hoops in Schools programme, our school our students can flourish their potential in another realm that they are naturally talented in.”

Churton School Principal Andrew Spence echoes similar sentiments.

“The programme has been a real hit at Churton School. The opening of the hoops was particularly special for students and staff. Students are using the hoops during their break times and there is a positive buzz about basketball. As a school we encourage members of the community to use our school grounds. The Hoops are extremely popular and are used continually outside of school hours.”

Betty-Joe Wiari, Tumuaki – Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Atihaunui-ā-pāpārangi, says the local community have also come together around the hoops, before and after school especially.

“E kore e mutu te mihi ki kautau e whakaaro nui ana ki tō mātau kura, ki tō mātau hapori ki te whakatū me te whakarewa i tēnei hōtaka motuhake o Basketball New Zealand.  Kei whea mai te ataahua o te kaupapa nei!

“From the time the hoops arrived, our tamariki were on the courts every chance they got, and it is great that the hoops are accessible for all – from our babies to our seniors.

“Hoops in schools have had an amazing impact on our tamariki.  Mātua mā are waiting patiently for their tamaiti or tamariki to have a few more shots before they head home at the end of the kura day.  The local community comes along after kura to play a little basketball and with summer coming up, the hoops will be well used,” says Wiari.

Jodie Brunger, Active Communities Manager at Sport Whanganui, says she encourages local associations and Regional Sports Trust’s to work together with Basketball New Zealand to get this programme in their region.

“Hoops in Schools makes it easy for funders, RST’s, local associations and NSO’s to collaborate and combine resources to activate communities.

“Throughout the process partnerships and relationships were strengthened between the local basketball association, BBNZ and Sport Whanganui.

“It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of Hoops in Schools this year, and as an RST we believe it has and will continue to have a positive and lasting effect on our community for years to come,” says Brunger.

Basketball New Zealand says more applications are currently being processed by funders and the success of this programme continues to gather momentum.

More info here: www.nz.basketball/hoopsinschools