Building a Sustainable, Vibrant, Connected
Hauraki Plains Community

Hauraki Plains Community Hub

17 hours ago

Meet the Candidates – Plains Ward

Want to hear directly from those standing in the 2025 Hauraki District Council elections?

Join us for an evening with Mayoral, Plains Ward, and Waikato Regional Council candidates.

🟢 Thursday 11th September, 6:00pm
🟢 Hauraki RSA – 8 Pipiroa Road, Ngatea
🟢 Light refreshments provided.

This is your chance to listen, ask questions, and be part of the conversation about the future of our Plains community.

Hosted by Hauraki Plains Community Hub. … See MoreSee Less

Hauraki Plains Community Hub

3 days ago

What happens when local netball coaches team up with university researchers? You get 𝗥𝗲:𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆. A project bringing fresh ideas (and funding!) into junior sport right here in the Plains.

Earlier this year, we were proud to be one of three pilot sites for 𝗥𝗲:𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 and junior netball were the lucky participants. The programme helps coaches create fun, inclusive training environments so kids can develop skills, confidence, and a love of sport that lasts a lifetime.

It wasn’t always easy balancing play with skill development, and fitting alongside other programmes — but it brought great value:

✔️ Coaches were encouraged to think differently about practice design.
✔️ The project came with $10,000 in funding, with $6,762 reinvested directly into Ngatea Junior Netball.

That funding won’t just cover costs but it will also be used to support other junior clubs at the Hauraki Plains Netball Centre. Their focus will build on elements learned from 𝗥𝗲:𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆, finding ways to make junior netball more inclusive, sustainable, and engaging for our tamariki. 💛

Next steps – hearing from Sport Waikato who will share results from all three pilot centres. We’re looking forward to seeing what we can learn to shape the future of youth sport. Stay Tuned … See MoreSee Less

Hauraki Plains Community Hub

7 days ago

RNZ recently asked: Where have all the coaches gone? It’s a question being felt across Aotearoa. Without volunteers, community sport simply can’t happen.

One way forward is through 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗭’𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 philosophy – rethinking how sport is delivered so it works for kids, families, and volunteers.

We’re already seeing good examples:

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 – six major sports agreed to shift their season boundaries, stopping the overlap between winter and summer codes so kids aren’t stretched too thin.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 – short, fun programmes like Super Smash Kids and holiday camps give children a chance to “have a go” without a long season commitment.

𝗥𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆 – NZ Rugby’s Game On initiative makes sure games still happen, even with fewer players, by adjusting team size, scrums, and match length.

𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 – Netball NZ’s Player Development Programme ensures all Year 7 and 8 players get development opportunities, rather than only those picked for rep teams.

These changes all share the same principle: shorter, smarter seasons and flexible formats not only keep kids engaged, but also make volunteering more manageable.

When you’re on the sideline this season, take a moment to appreciate the volunteers who make the game possible and to keep asking: 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨? … See MoreSee Less

Hauraki Plains Community Hub

1 week ago

🩵 Community Health Talk with Health Ngatea

Health Ngatea invites you to an evening session on Living with Life Limiting Illness – covering COPD, heart failure, dementia, Parkinson’s, cancer, and more.

🩵 Monday 15 September, 6pm
💙 Health Ngatea, Dent Street
🩵Presented by Emma Hedgecock
💙 Door donations go to Ngatea’s Care & Friendship Group. Snacks provided.

All welcome – come along and learn, share, and connect.

@healthngatea … See MoreSee Less