Waipapa Sports Hub

For many years the Kerikeri district has struggled to cater for the growing demand for sporting facilities. This demand has been driven by the rapidly growing population as well as lifestyle trends that see more people interested in sport for physical and mental health, recreation and commercial purposes. As a sector, sports impact all age groups, gender groups, abilities and ethnicities - it has something to offer everyone.

Recently, FNDC purchased a significant parcel of land in Waipapa and has designated it as a sports hub. The site was chosen for its proximity to existing sporting facilities, vehicle accessibility and terrain.

The Waipapa Sports Hub Project Working Group was established in October 2020 to oversee the development of the land and facilities. This group meets regularly and includes iwi, sporting codes, elected members and FNDC staff.

As with any infrastructure, funding is the key issue - identifying how to prioritise and fund each phase of development while ensuring the facilities can meet the future needs of a growing population. In addition, there are pressures to ensure any development addresses high-level issues such as climate change which will drive changes in how people live, connect and work.

We are working closely with the working group as there is significant alignment with the vision and the goals set out by the community in 2019. We are also looking at other communities who are undertaking similar projects, such as Taranaki.