Venues: Kaitake hub saves sport in township

Will Johnston

The million-dollar redevelopment of Corbett Park has saved sport in a small Taranaki township.

The pavilion at the Oakura sportsground was in desperate need of an upgrade and it was possible after the formation of the Kaitake Community Sports Hub.

Chaired by former manager of the Hurricanes and Junior All Blacks Garry Carnachan, the organisation was formed in 2022 after Kaitake’s rugby, football, cricket, netball and junior sports club merged.

“It was a facility well used by the community in terms of rugby and football and it was in disrepair,” Carnachan said. “It wasn’t fit-for-use anymore and it was hard for one club to bring back.”

The merger of the different codes provided a long-term, sustainable option. An upgrade could then take place, which has been completed.  

Carnachan said if a merger didn’t happen the clubs would have folded as there is no other facility close by to house them.

“People would have traveled into town for sport and with that barrier a lot of people would have dropped out.”

A $1.3million redevelopment of the pavilion included new changing rooms, recladding, strengthening and overall upgrades. The floodlights are next to be upgraded after they didn’t feature in the original plans. A celebration of the project will be held on Sunday at the venue. 

The hub has raised funds themselves and relied on volunteer hours to complete the work.

“The local community, tradies and suppliers have been amazing. The value-in-kind work that’s been brought into the project is amazing, we wouldn’t have done it.”

Since the redevelopment reached the end, Carnachan has noticed the growth in sports interest in Oakura. There are two men’s senior, a women’s and seven junior football teams and cricket and netball has been reinstated after a hiatus. 

“In terms of numbers, it’s had a massive effect.”

 Carnachan said the facility is there to be used by the community.

“If the lights are on late at night, we know the community is using it and we know we’ve done well.”