Kaitake sports hub looking for sponsors

Will Johnston

The newly formed Kaitake Community Sports Hub has started a fundraising effort to refurbish its clubrooms at Oakura’s Corbett Park.

The building, previously owned by the Kaitake Rugby Club since its formation over 100 years ago, has fallen into significant disrepair after the team’s absence from the local competition in 2009.

Now with the club fielding a team in the division two competition along with growth in senior and junior teams across football and rugby, an incorporated society was formed to bring the clubrooms back up to standard. The society’s members are Kaitake’s rugby, football, cricket and junior sports clubs.

Hub chair and project coordinator Garry Carnachan said Corbett Park has always been a big part of the Kaitake district and an upgrade is needed.

“The building is being used again, particularly because the rugby club is back in business and for the last two years, they’ve actually won the division two competition, so they’re really strong,” he said.

With a solid community sports presence, which also includes three senior men’s and a women’s football teams, the cricket club which celebrates its 50^th jubilee this year and junior sport, Carnachan said the building is not fit for purpose.

“It’s beyond the means of any single club to raise the money to get it back up.”

He hopes with the hub forming will become a sustainable entity and attractive proposition for any funders from the community or grants system.

The hub has already gained support from Sport Taranaki, Kaitake Community Board, Taranaki Rugby, Central Football and Parininihi ki Waitōtara.

“Saving this building and creating an environment for Kaitake to gather together, all of the different factions together on a Saturday when there’s football and rugby on, is amazing.”

He said on Saturday’s supporters can’t get a carpark and need to walk.

The plans will include renovations and remedial work to the existing building and upgrade changing facilities to accommodate women’s sport not currently catered for.

Kaitake women’s player Eva Davies said having a team in the competition for the first time provides an opportunity for women to join the hub.

“Playing a sport brings everyone together,” she said.

“Having the opportunity for the sports club being renovated would be great because it would increase interest being part of this and brings the community together.”

She said the hub is for everybody in the area and further and encourages people and businesses to get behind the initiative to build a space around community sport.

More information on the hub’s website: https://www.kcsh.co.nz/