Play, Active Recreation, Sport (PARS)

PLAY

Play benefits people of all ages. For tamariki, it develops motor skills, creativity, and social confidence. For rangatahi, it supports identity formation and helps reduce stress. Adults use play to stay active, connect with others, and recharge, while older adults gain cognitive health and social engagement. Across the lifespan, play fosters wellbeing, connection, and lifelong movement.

Play is also a foundation of physical literacy and wellbeing. The PARS team leads place-based initiatives that enhance play environments, advocate for play-friendly infrastructure beyond traditional playgrounds, and promote an all-of-whānau approach, positioning play as an age-appropriate activity for everyone.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

ACTIVE RECREATION

Active recreation is non-competitive physical activity done for enjoyment, wellbeing, and personal growth. It includes walking, swimming, cycling, yoga, and outdoor play, often self-directed or community-led. Benefits include improved physical and mental health, stronger social connections, increased confidence, and deeper engagement with the natural environment. Active recreation also harnesses physical activity to achieve wider social outcomes, from building community cohesion and fostering cultural identity, to supporting equity, resilience, and environmental stewardship.​​​​​​​

For rangatahi, active recreation provides informal, inclusive movement experiences and is a key lever for engaging inactive youth through positive youth development, with a focus on wellbeing over structure and competition. We actively utilise the voices of young people and principles of codesign to shape and guide these opportunities, ensuring they are relevant, inclusive, and empowering.

SPORT

Sport is structured physical activity involving rules, competition, and skill development, from individual pursuits to team games. It promotes health, wellbeing, and social connection, while building confidence, resilience, and leadership.

Because of its traditions and established pathways, sport requires intentional support to remain inclusive, relevant, and aligned with broader physical activity outcomes. In our region, multiple layers of governance create a complex landscape that demands coordination and clarity. The PARS team strengthens sector capability by supporting quality experiences through coaching development, competition formats, and local advocacy, while connecting governance layers to enhance regional impact.​​​​​​​

Community sport is complemented by a strong focus on secondary school sport, a critical touchpoint for lifelong engagement. The Regional Sport Director leads this system by working with schools to grow participation, improve programme quality, develop coaching pathways, and coordinate the Tasman Secondary Schools (TSS) Calendar. They act as a strategic connector between schools, regional sport organisations, and national priorities, ensuring sport remains inclusive, engaging, and responsive to the needs of young people.