School students tackle inactivity with programme inspired by women’s rugby, cricket & football World Cups
- Tākarokaro has been developed as part of the ‘In Our Backyard’ Project which is led by Sport NZ in partnership with MBIE, the Ministry of Education, and four National Sporting Organisations; New Zealand Rugby, Yachting New Zealand, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Football.
- Tākarokaro is part of the govt.’s Healthy Active Learning initiative to improve the wellbeing of tamariki and Sport NZ’s Every Body Active: Strategic plan 2020 – 2024 aimed at addressing inactivity in children and young people.
- Sport NZ research shows only 7% of children and young people aged 5 – 18 in New Zealand are meeting the govt. guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
- Rugby World Cup 2021 (playing in 2022) is driving the project as part of its legacy plan to impact beyond the tournament from 8 Oct – 12 Nov 2022.
- All Black legend and three-time Rugby World Cup veteran Ian Jones aka The Kamo Kid attended the launch of the programme at his old school Kamo High School.
- Kamo High School students among the first in New Zealand to see the Rugby World Cup 2021 trophy up close during the programme launch.
School students will play a leading role at getting Kiwi communities more active with a programme that draws inspiration from the three women’s World Cups taking place on home soil over the next two years.
Tākarokaro – Let’s Get Active – is an initiative by Sport NZ, in partnership with New Zealand Rugby, Yachting New Zealand, New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Football, that provides learning experiences through sport to children in years five to 10 throughout Aotearoa.
The programme was launched today (Thursday 10th March) at Kamo High School where students took part in Rippa Rugby activities and were treated to a visit from All Black legend and three-time Rugby World Cup veteran Ian Jones aka The Kamo Kid. A Kamo High School old boy, Jones chatted with students and staff on the importance of being active from a young age and the impact that hosting the Rugby World Cup 2021 in Whangārei will have on the region.
Students also got the chance to see the Rugby World Cup 2021 trophy before it takes off on an offical Trophy Tour throughout Aotearoa and Oceania.
Schools and kura are being invited to take part in Tākarokaro over terms two and three where students will be tasked with designing activities to get their communities more active, taking learnings from the four sports.
The free programme draws on what is a historic moment in time for women’s sport in the Southern Hemisphere with three women’s World Cups taking place in New Zealand over the next 18 months – starting with the Cricket World Cup 2022 in March, followed by the Rugby World Cup 2021 (playing in 2022) from October to November and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Sport NZ research shows only 7% of children and young people aged 5 – 18 in New Zealand are meeting the government guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Tākarokaro forms part of Sport NZ’s Every Body Active: Strategic plan 2020 – 2024 aimed at addressing inactivity in children and young people and complements the government’s Healthy Active Learning initiative to improve the wellbeing of tamariki through healthy eating and drinking and quality physical activity.
Sport NZ Project Lead, Dean Stanley says, “We are excited by the opportunity that the three women’s World Cups provides to help get our tamariki and rangatahi more active, and we are really looking forward to the launch of Tākarokaro alongside Rugby World Cup 2021. The excitement across the country generated by the event will provide real motivation for schools and kura to get involved with the programme.”
The Tākarokaro programme follows three stages – research, design and testing – with each participating school teaming up with a local sports club to learn from coaches and players about the activities they use and how they go about designing them. At the end of the programme the school and club will jointly host a Tākarokaro festival to engage whānau in the students’ research and activities and enable them to present their work.
Students at Ahipara School and Kamo High School in Northland are piloting the programme this term, alongside Te Rarawa and Kamo Rugby Clubs, before it is rolled out nationwide from Monday 24th April.
Ahipara School Principal, Lisa Murray says, “It’s interesting to watch them [the students] as they not only take responsibility for their own learning, but also contribute to the programme development process. Seeing a real life reason for their learning and knowing that their actions might make a difference in our community also seems to be adding to their motivation to learn.”
Registrations are now open for schools and kura. Registered schools will be sent a pack containing RWC 2021 flags and posters for classrooms, video links to RWC 2021 ambassadors talking about leadership, interactive booklets (including a ‘design your own jersey’ activity), and a festival pack to assist schools in running their end of programme celebrations with their sports clubs.
Rugby World Cup 2021 Tournament Director, Michelle Hooper says, “Tākarokaro forms an important part of our legacy project which is aimed at ensuring Rugby World Cup 2021 has a lasting and meaningful impact in Aotearoa beyond the final whistle in November.
“We hope we can inspire our tamariki by showcasing the world’s best women’s rugby players in their own backyard. We know they are fantastic role models for both girls and boys and there’s nothing more powerful than seeing your idols in action at a young age. We can’t wait to see what the students are able to learn and achieve through this programme and we look forward to seeing them in the stands, with their whānau, cheering on their favourite team.”
The Rugby World Cup 2021 runs from 8 October to 12 November in Auckland and Whangarei. Organisers are targeting a world record attendance for a women’s rugby match as the Black Ferns take on Australia during opening match day at Eden Park. Tickets are just $5 for children and $10 for adults. Go to Home | Rugby World Cup 2021 to find out more.
Volunteer applications have also officially opened for RWC 2021. Over 400 volunteers will be recruited, trained and deployed across Auckland and Whangārei for the event. To apply go to https://rwc2021.rosterfy.co/register
For more information and to register for Takarokaro – Let’s Get Active, go to https://www.takarokaro-sport.net/
