Long-term Plan Sector Update

Whether you are a volunteer, an administrator, a parent, or someone who simply gets the benefits sport and physical activity brings, you’ll be interested to know the outcome of the recent Long-term Plan 2024-2034 process that was undertaken by Auckland Council. Well, at least the bits that pertain to sport and physical activity, right?!  

The result is exciting for our sector. In fact, we believe it has the potential to significantly change the game when it comes to community sport and recreation facility funding in Auckland.

Long-term Plan 2024-2034 outcomes and more . . .

Sport and Recreation Facilities Investment Fund: this fund is being retained and, moving forward, a proportion of it will be non-contestable, to enable a focus on priority projects.

Increased investment: additional investment of $35 million over three years has been included in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034. This will mean more existing facilities can be upgraded and that new facilities can finally be built. This is a huge win, which will see more Aucklanders enjoying community sport and recreation and its wide-reaching benefits.

Alignment with Aktive’s Regional Facility Priority Plan: this important reference will ensure funding will be directed for maximum impact and as a result, we will see a significant increase in the ability for priority community sport and recreation facility projects to be completed in a timely manner.

Partnering for impact: it was fantastic to see the importance of a relationship with the Ministry of Education highlighted within the Long-term Plan. The even better news is that these formal conversations have already started regarding community access and Council investment partnerships which may potentially further increase this impact.

You can read more about the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 here.

With thanks

This exceptional outcome has been a true team effort. There are many individuals and organisations that Aktive would like to acknowledge.

Firstly, a special thank you to Mayor Wayne Brown and the team in his Office, Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson and Councillors Richard Hills and Angela Dalton who are the Chair and Deputy Chair respectively of the Planning, Environments and Park Committee. Your openness to listen and willingness to engage with us to identify an impactful range of solutions has been hugely valued and much appreciated. Thank you for your leadership and support.

Thank you to the many Councillors and Local Board Chairs and members who took the time to meet Aktive and our System Build Partners, CLM Community Sport, Harbour Sport, Sport Auckland and Sport Waitākere to discuss the importance of this opportunity. It was incredibly heartening to have such universal support from everyone on the value that sport and physical activity brings to community.

Thank you also to the many members of our sector, and those who supported this campaign through case studies: Orewa Surf Life Saving Club; Auckland Hockey; Eastern Suburbs Gymnastics Club; Karioitahi Surf Club; Counties Tennis Association; Michaels Avenue Community Centre; Waitematā Table Tennis Club; Upper Waitematā Marine Centre; and Warkworth Showground Multi-Sport Project.

Thank you to sector leaders who put forward videos at the time: Raelene Castle ONZM, Group Chief Executive, Sport New Zealand; Dillon Boucher MNZM, Chief Executive, Basketball New Zealand; Laura Menzies, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Region Football; Duane Mann, General Manager, Clubs & Partnerships, Auckland Rugby League; Iain Laxon, Chief Executive Officer, Auckland Cricket; Aaron Lawton, Chief Executive Officer, Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union; Devida Hati-Ross, President, Tāmaki-makau-rau Poi Tarawhiti; Murray Gardiner, General Manager, Netball Waitākere and Phil Vyver, Chief Executive Officer, Netball Northern; Daewook Kim, Director, K Elite Football Academy; and Cynthia Ta'ala-Timaloa, Women and Girls Lead, CLM Community Sport.

Thank you also to who shared the messages; and those who made and encouraged submissions.

This was an important time for the sport and physical activity sector in Auckland to mobilise. We did just that and the results simply speak for themselves.

Next steps

This is just the start! The team at Aktive is already underway with a variety of next steps that flow from this fantastic outcome to maximise the opportunity in front of us.

We are partnering with Auckland Council to get community-led facilities delivered and are committed to maximising the connections and impact of additional funding, the Facility Priority Plan, the Funders’ Forum and other initiatives.

You also will see that Aktive has upweighted its focus on Active Environments in our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan which will be released shortly. Now one of four strategic priorities where we believe Aktive can have the greatest impact, our focus and commitment to Active Environments, including community sport and recreation facilities, remains unwavering.

Thank you once again for your support in helping us achieve this outstanding outcome for Auckland, for Aucklanders and for the sport and physical activity sector. We look forward to keeping you updated with ongoing progress.