Sport Waikato general manager regional leadership Steve Dalgety.
Sport Waikato supported the distribution of $40,915 through the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund into three Ōtorohanga organisations in the year to the end of June.
A Sport Waikato Impact Snapshot report submitted to the latest Ōtorohanga District Council meeting highlighted what changed in the town during the year, through community investment, partnerships and collaborative action across play, active recreation and sport.
Sport Waikato helped increase access to quality play, active recreation and sport opportunities across the Ōtorohanga District.
Funding was targeted towards children and youth who face barriers to participation.
The $40,915 Tū Manawa funding was allocated to Ōtorohanga Riding for the Disabled and Youthtown’s holiday programme and its water confidence and safety project at Ōtorohanga College.
Sport Waikato supported the distribution of a further $110,077 to organisations delivering programmes across multiple Waikato districts, including Ōtorohanga.
That included support for swimming, martial arts, rugby and league in Ōtorohanga.
“Over the past twelve months, we have continued to work alongside councils, schools, iwi, regional organisations and community partners to strengthen local capability, improve alignment, and support sustainable participation opportunities across the Waikato,” Sport Waikato general manager regional leadership Steve Dalgety said.
“A key focus has been helping partners navigate change while maintaining momentum towards shared outcomes. At a regional level, Sport Waikato has assumed a stronger leadership role in secondary school sport following a strategic review with the Waikato Secondary Schools Sports Association.
He said the transition provided greater alignment across education, sport and community sectors, while ensuring secondary school voices continued to inform decision-making through an ongoing advisory structure.
“Our commitment to evidence-informed planning continues to grow through initiatives such as the Moving Waikato Community Survey, Moving Waikato Youth Survey, Voice of Tamariki and Active Xchange movement data,” he said.
“These insights are helping councils and community partners make more informed decisions about investment, planning and delivery.”
District-specific profiles would further strengthen local decision-making over the next year by providing a deeper understanding of participation patterns, community needs and emerging opportunities across each district.
