Sport Hawke’s Bay aims to get more females active by better understanding what are reasons participation drops off from 15 years of age and what might inspire them to keep active.

The regional sport organisation has launched its Women’s and Girls Strategy with a vision to enhance their health and wellbeing of women by creating inclusive and equal opportunities to be involved in play, active recreation and sport.

Sport Hawke’s Bay Community Partnership Adviser Kate Benny says 49 percent of females aged 13-18 currently participate in sport for more than six weeks annually.

The aim is to increase participation to 60 percent by 2025 along with increasing female tamariki and rangatahi enjoying at least one activity over a 7-day period from 90% to 95%.

She said a research insights project with secondary schools throughout 2023 will capture both the benefits of participating in active recreation as well as some of the reasons why teenage girls don’t participate.

“We already have a good idea to some of the reasons why there is a drop off such as costs of participating such as fees, cost of sport equipment and transport issues but the focus groups will give us more insights from both those that already participate as well as those that don’t.

“Confidence is also a big issue, so we want to create a welcoming and safe environment. 

The insight programme will start in Term 2 with Woodford House and Flaxmere College, with a further 4 schools in Term 3 and 4.

“The insights we get will be provided to sport codes and organisations so as they can then create new participation pathways for women.

Another initiative is to create ideas that promote participation that have the potential to receive funding from the Sport NZ/Sport HB Tu Manawa Fund.

“We’re keen to hear the ideas and then help co-design the funding application.

Kate points to other successful female participation programmes delivered in Hawke’s Bay such as Sea Sisters, an introduction to surfing, which received $40,000 in 2020.

“Sea Sisters was a huge success and continues to grow female participation in surfing.

Another part to the strategy is creating leadership opportunities such as coaching and volunteering.

In August the Black Ferns Women’s Rugby team will visit to celebrate the Females on the Move initiative.

Article added: Monday 03 April 2023