Active Recreation
Ngā Mahi Whakahohe a Rēhia
Raglan has an environment that is very conducive to active recreation. There is a myriad of recreational activities in Raglan. This is a reflected on a daily and weekly basis when people from out of town come here for recreational activities. During the Summer the town is swelling to its capacity with people pursuing relaxation and active recreation. Raglan has world class surf breaks, offers harbour recreation, has beautiful bush walks and bike tracks.
Whaingaroa for many decades has become a destination for surfers who realise the uniqueness of the coastline and the surrounding area. Surfers are diverse group young, old, female, male, rich, poor, able and disabled all choosing surfing as a way to engage with their environment and recreation activities. Surfers make a large contribution to the Whaingaroa community either in business activities or through cultural, social and environmental organisations.
Directory of local recreation groups
Sports Club
Badminton Club
Brady Hartstone
Celia Risbridger
Email
Community Group
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Andrew Higgins, Coach
027 846 1628
Website
Local Business
Hamilton Tennis Academy
Suvi Muotka
Email
Facebook
Community Group
Light Exercise Group
Graham Hubert
8257244
Noleen McCathie
8258521
Community Group
Miniball/Basketball
TJ Pemberton
Email
Sports Club
Raglan Netball Club
Sarah King
Facebook
Local Business
Penguin Swim School
Alice Te Hira
School
Raglan Area School
TJ Pemberton, Sports Coordinator
Email
Community Group
Raglan Community Gym
Rebecca McKechnie
021 041 0080
Tumanako Ritchie
022 169 6012
Sports Club
Raglan Ladies Tennis
Facebook
Sports Club
Raglan Roosters - Senior Football
Xavier Meade
Bjorn Ledwig
Bryn Quilter
Facebook
Sports Club
Raglan Rugby Sports Club
Val Rippey, Chair
Noel Barber
Email
Website
Sports Club
Raglan Surf Life Saving Club
Anne Snowden, Secretary
Email
Sarah Bailey, Chairperson
Website
School
Te Mata School
Fiona Gott, Principal
Email
School
Te Uku School
Paula Malins, Principal
Email
Community Group
Whaingaroa Touch Rugby
Fridays at Papahua Domain from 5pm
Facebook
Local Business
The Space (Yoga)
Patti Mitchley
Email
Website
Sports Club
Whaingaroa Hoe Waka
Sarah Harihari, Chairperson
Email
Website
Local Business
Adrenaline Alley Raglan - Kitesurf & Outdoor Goods
0221862949
Email
Website
Directory of Regional Organisations
Local Projects being explored
Raglan Mountainbiking Club, Cyclery Raglan, Raglan Events and Multisport Trust. Karioi Classic cycling event. Te Ara Kakariki mtb trails. Papahua pump track. Karioi Trail Run, Waitetuna Windfarm Run, Pipiwharauroa trail to windfarm. Roadside cycling.
We have the beaches, Wainui Reserve, Kaitoke Walkway, Karioi tracks, Karamu Walkway, Pipiwharauroa Way and a few other, mainly unsignposted tracks.
RAS outdoor court and sports hall, mini court with one hoop at Papahua, Most basketball activities are being run on a social basis or through RAS. Few social clubs with mainly Raglan locals play in Hamilton.
Raglan Rugby Sports Club. Situated at the Raglan Recreation Reserve, rugby fields, changing shed facilities and clubrooms. Raglan Rugby Sports Club values are Manaakitanga, Tiakina, Whanaungatanga. Sports and fitness groups run from these facilities and the reserve: Senior Rugby and Touch Rugby, Raglan Junior Rugby, Raglan Netball Club, Tamariki Touch, Lightweight Fitness, Hamilton Tennis Academy. All of the above groups are filled with local children and adults who are passionate about sport and physical recreation in our community.
All ages play at Papahua. Raglan Football Club Inc. enters teams in Waibop Competition from 5th to 14th grade. RAS enters teams in Waikato Secondary School comp. Independent adult male team in Waikato Sunday League and Thursday evening kick around for all-comers. Soccer expanded from 95 players in 2011 to over 250 in 2019 with 46% of U18 players now female.
Fun skatepark, pump track, skaters of all ages, skatepark builder in town, skate shop, empty land, supportive community.
Gardening, horseriding (Pony Club), hunting, rugby, golf, running, hiking/tramping, netball, rock climbing, badminton (Badminton Club), blowkarts – land yachts, bowling and indoor bowls (Bowling Club), croquet, dance, kapa haka, exercise classes/gym, martial arts, netball.
Whaingaroa has a natural and unique surfing environment and it offers plenty of opportunity in varied conditions.
The Whaanga Coast surf breaks are recognised in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 as being nationally significant along with being world renowned.
Because of the quality of surf and the uniqueness of the environment, there is a community of surfers who are proactive in protecting and managing their space.
Raglan Surf Life Saving and Junior Surf progammes.
Raglan Area School has a Surf Academy as part of the school curriculum.
Point Boardriders. Manu Bay competition event calendar is set in place by the Coastal committee, Point Boardriders and the Waikato
Kayaking, rowing (Rowing Club), waka ama (Waka Ama Club), boating, fishing (Raglan Fishing Club), SUPing, swimming (Swimming Club), kitesurfing, diving/scubadiving, jet skiing, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing (Sailing Club), surf life saving (Surf Life Saving Club)
Paragliding, hang gliding and an active airfield which is used regularly for small aircraft.
Most common themes from the community
More walkways & cycleways
Recreation centre/sports facility
We enjoy the natural environment through recreation in a sustainable way. Those involved in recreational activities help protect and enhance the natural environment and have an ongoing commitment to improving water quality in streams, harbour and ocean. Sports are supported if they have minimal impact on the environment and other activities.
Sport in our community has positive outcomes that resonate not just on the sports field but also within the wider community. Sports gives children, youth and adults, opportunity for leadership, resilience, capability and strong community connection.
Active recreation supports better health and has a positive economic impact.
We have suitable, safe facilities for sports teams, groups and individuals.
Recreation is accessible to all.
Possible pathways toward achieving these aspirations
A pontoon out by the walk bridge We used to have one there years ago.
New Skate park so locals can continue to skate when tourists invade.
More dog friendly walkways.
- Acknowledge and support existing sporting groups and clubs in Raglan, the volunteers who are involved and the value they bring to this community.
- Really clean water, no more wastewater to ocean discharge. For pathways to support this see Infrastructure
- Manu Bay to be free from additional building development
- Manu Bay, in terms of commercial activities, is the place for surf competitions only.
- Surf school activities are kept to Ngarunui beach.
- Recognise the Whaanga Coast (originally known as the Karioi Native Reserve) as a significant space for Tainui Iwi and local hapu.
- Contribute to the Waikato Regional Coastal plan review
- Transport services to beach and back for everyone.
- Create a separate foil board zone to allow for separation from established surfing zones.
- Contribute to the Waikato Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw.
- Support the new surf code of conduct and ensure that signage is placed in surfing areas for education purposes.
- Form and sustain a tennis club that caters for all levels and ages
- Find alternative fields in the Whaingaroa area to give more options as football and other sports keep growing. Consider the airfield.
- Basketball – look at expanding mini court at Papahua. A full indoor court would enable local teams to play competitions and host tournaments
- Extra field space and club rooms/gear storage urgently needed for soccer
- Indoor Recreation Centre/Community Sports Facility – winter activities
- Indoor swimming pool
- Walking and cycling are supported; they provide transport solutions, have a low impact on the environment and encourage exercise to improve health.
- They also attract tourists in a manner which minimises their adverse impacts on the area.
- New and upgraded walking and cycling tracks. (see Transport)
- Get the council’s Trails Strategy 2016 implemented and contribute when it’s next up for review (2021).
- Wainui Reserve Management Plan needs to provide for the widest range of recreation activities suited to the reserve. This plan is currently being reviewed and could be very crucial to improving the recreational value of the reserve. Eg. better access to mountain bike trails through Wainui Reserve
- Skate park upgrade and other skate projects.
- Provide for skateboarding through the CBD and over the footbridge as part of pedestrianisation.
- Physical inactivity costs the country around $1.3 billion a year, or 0.7% of GDP.
- In terms of Raglan ward’s 5,790 people, that’s about $1,9m a year. By supporting and promoting active recreation we work towards reducing that cost.
