Chatham Islands Spaces and Places Plan
Date: August - November 2024
Client: Sport Canterbury
Project Description
Sport and recreation play an important role in the social fabric of the Chatham Islands (also known as Rekohu or Wharekauri). The remoteness of the Islands calls for the community to band together and sport and recreation offer a positive medium for this to occur.
The purpose of this Plan is to outline the future focus areas for facilities that will help to ensure those living on the Chatham Islands can participate in and enjoy sport and recreation activities.
RSL’s Role
The Plan was developed using the following methods:
Interviews, discussions and workshops with individuals and groups on the available sport and recreation facilities and what they would see as priorities for the future.
Interviews and meetings with people and organisations in New Zealand, before visiting the Chatham Islands to understand the environment
A series of site visits to the available sport and recreation facilities
A review of available information on population and participation trends, where available.
Integrating available national trends and guidance where available.
Development of key planning principles to guide recommendations
Provision of several recommendations in the areas of both Leadership and Coordination and Facilities.
Project Outcome
This report summarised the challenges and opportunities for sport and recreation on the islands and provided some key focus areas that will help ensure the Chathams have fit-for-purpose sport and recreation assets in the future. These focus areas included identifying organisations to lead and support the recommendations, but it will take an all-island approach (and external support) to implement this plan. The future generations of residents deserve this.
