Basketball New Zealand is calling for expressions of interest in a new facilities campaign called Hoops in Marae, an initiative designed to get more tamariki and rangatahi active and engaged in the game of basketball by helping meet the huge demand for hoops around the motu.
After a successful launch of the first Hoops in Marae pilot project at Te Poho o Rawiri Marae in Gisborne last month, Basketball New Zealand CEO Dillon Boucher has seen first-hand the immediate impact Hoops in Marae can make on some of the smaller and more isolated communities around Aotearoa and can’t wait to roll out more.
“As an organisation we’re incredibly proud to have launched our Hoops in Marae initiative,” said Boucher. “We couldn’t have asked for a better setting at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae – seeing the smiles on the faces of the tamariki and rangatahi here today shows how much impact something a ball and a hoop can have.
“Hoops in Schools and Hoops in Parks have set the benchmark, but now we really have an opportunity to take another step forward in making basketball the most accessible sport in Aotearoa. Poitūkohu Māori o Aotearoa are an incredibly valuable partner of ours and we’re thrilled to continue to work closely together.”
Hoops in Marae is a collaborative initiative between Poitūkohu (Basketball) Māori Aotearoa and Basketball New Zealand, that partners with iwi and funders across Aotearoa. Much like the Hoops in Schools programme, the concept puts more fit-for-purpose hoops in marae, so our tamariki, rangatahi and wider whanau can be more active and enjoy playing hoops in their communities. Hoops in Marae will provide more sustainable, long term participation opportunities for communities in a Te Ao Māori environment
Michelle Hippolite is a Board Member of Poitūkohu Māori o Aotearoa and spoke of the impact not just in a basketball sense, but from a community perspective.
“Hoops in Marae creates more spaces for our whānau to play the game and connect with their ahurea,” said Hippolite. “Marae are often located at the heart of our hapori, and by bringing poitūkohu to Marae, we’re not just growing the game – we’re strengthening their whakapapa ties and providing the opportunity for our whānau to be on their whenua and go to their marae more regularly. This initiative has our ahurea māori at the forefront while also nurturing the next generation of players and leaders.”
Basketball New Zealand Facilities Lead Dan Dawick is excited at the prospect of more Hoops in Marae in the coming months, impacting positively on many more communities around the motu.
“Hoops in Marae has been a long time in the work and to be able launch it in Gisborne, where we’ve already done a lot of mahi in the outdoor facility space, was extra special,” said Dawick.
“These projects rely on collaboration and to be able to strengthen our relationship with Poitūkohu Māori o Aotearoa moving forward is something I’m excited about.
“We’ve already seen the impact that our hoop projects have had for tamariki and rangatahi across the motu, so we’re more than confident Hoops in Marae will continue this positive trend. Marae are such a special place for whanau and communities, so to see our offerings extend to these locations is a testament to just how impactful basketball is for everyone.”
Those in attendance in Gisborne were fortunate to have a skills session on their new court with current Tall Black Ethan Rusbatch and former Tall Black Hayden Allen. Former Tall Black legend and current BBNZ CEO Dillon Boucher was also on hand to support the pilot, as was Poitūkohu Māori o Aotearoa Board Member, Michelle Hippolite.
Basketball New Zealand also enjoyed the support of close partner Turanga Health, a great supporter of BBNZ hoops projects, on hand providing kai for all the tamariki, rangatahi and wider whanau that were present.
Interested marae can now complete an Expression of Interest form online if they would like to be considered for the initiative. A working group made up of representatives from Poitūkohu Māori o Aotearoa and BBNZ will be working closely together to identify suitable marae that meet the preset criteria (outlined here) to being the concept to life, with the support of local funding partners.
Please click here to access the Expression of Interest form.
Hoops in Marae – About
- Hoops in Marae is a collaborative initiative between Poitūkohu (Basketball) Māori Aotearoa and Basketball New Zealand, that partners with iwi and funders across Aotearoa.
- Much like the Hoops in Schools programme, the concept puts more fit-for-purpose hoops in marae, so our tamariki, rangatahi and wider whanau can be more active and enjoy playing hoops in their communities. Hoops in Marae will provide more sustainable, long term participation opportunities for communities in a Te Ao Māori environment
- A lack of suitable equipment and facilities is one of the biggest barriers to basketball participation across the motu.
- Marae are a place where our people gather. According to recent census reports there were more than 770 marae across the motu and over 30 iwi. We want hoops in more locations throughout Aotearoa, and we want to improve accessibility. Hoops in Marae will provide the platform for us to achieve this vision by enabling more participation opportunities for tamariki, rangatahi and wider whanau.
- Hoops in Marae aims to provide:
- Better basketball facilities for tamariki and rangatahi
- Better accessibility
- Intergenerational participation and connection
- Improved Hauora and locally led initiative
