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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.

Groups & Organisations

  • See Full Directory below

Projects

  • Indoor Recreation centre
  • More public recreation spaces
  • Connecting walkways
  • Te Mata Tennis Club Fundraiser
  • Secure additional soccer fields and club facilities for gear storage

Learn

Get Involved

  • Volunteer with a local recreation group
  • Donate/sponsor a local group

Stories

Te Mata Tennis Club

Te Mata Tennis Club extends its heartfelt thanks to Rabobank for selecting them as the winners of the 2024 Good Deeds Competition. We also express our gratitude to the Raglan Community Board for their belief in and support for this project.

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
Community Group

Crop Swap

Lisa James

021 472 957

Email

Facebook
Local Business

Surf Raglan Whaingaroa with Daniel Kereopa

Daniel Kereopa

021 089 53000

[email protected]

Local Business

Freedom to Fly

Jess Ramirez

0225141766

[email protected]

 

Jay Ramirez

0223510704

[email protected]

Website
Community Group

Friends of Wainui Bush Park

John Lawson

[email protected]

Facebook
Local Business

Greenwave Surf School

Zennor Wernham

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Hamilton Tennis Academy

Suvi Muotka

Email

Facebook
Community Group

Karioi Project

Kristel van Houte

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Lifted Pilates

Eden Pollock

[email protected]

Website
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

Nia Dance

Belinda Goodwin

0275407422

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Penguin Swim School

Alice Te Hira
School

Raglan Area School

TJ Pemberton, Sports Coordinator

Email

Sports Club

Raglan Bowling Club

John Latimer, Secretary

[email protected]

Facebook
Community Group

Raglan Community Gym

Rebecca McKechnie

021 041 0080

 

Tumanako Ritchie

022 169 6012

Sports Club

Raglan Golf Club

Chris Harris, Club President

[email protected]

 

Julian Pujante, Club Manager

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Raglan Gym

Amber Beaumont

027 294 6949

[email protected]

Website
Community Group

Raglan Horticultural Society

Geoff Pownall

[email protected]

Facebook
Local Business

Raglan Kayak

Stephen Reid

[email protected]

Website
Sports Club

Raglan Ladies Tennis

Facebook
Sports Club

Raglan Mountain Bike Club

Dirk De Ruysscher

[email protected]

Facebook
Sports Club

Raglan Point Boardriders Club

Luke Hughes

[email protected]

 

Junior Boardriders:

Hanna Morse

[email protected]

Facebook
Local Business

Raglan Rock Adventure Co.

0276453547

[email protected]

Website
Community Group

Raglan Ramblers

John Lawson

[email protected]

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 Rugby Sports Club - Junior

Jacqui Smith, President

022 1990342

Email

 

Draws & Results

Facebook
Local Business

Raglan Surf School

Rock

07 8257327

[email protected]

Website
Sports Club

Raglan Sailing Club

Pauline Davies, Secretary

[email protected]

Website
Sports Club

Raglan Junior Football Club

John Bretski, Chair

[email protected]

 

Kate Dermer, Secretary

[email protected]

Website
Sports Club

Raglan Sport Fishing Club

Ken Barry, Committee

[email protected]

Facebook
Sports Club

Raglan Surf Life Saving Club

Anne Snowden, Secretary 

Email

 

Sarah Bailey, Chairperson

Website
Sports Club

Raglan Rowing Club

Tony Oosten

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Seed Pilates

Lisa

[email protected]

Website
Local Business

SOFIT Fitness & personal training Raglan

Sophie von Huben

[email protected]

Website
School

Te Mata School

Fiona Gott, Principal

Email

School

Te Uku School

Paula Malins, Principal

Email

Sports Club

Te Uku Pony Club

Avril Hawken

[email protected]

Facebook
Community Group

Whaingaroa Touch Rugby

Fridays at Papahua Domain from 5pm

Facebook
Local Business

The Space (Yoga)

Patti Mitchley

Email

Website
Sports Club

TSKF Raglan, Shōtōkan Karate

Maureen Stockman

i[email protected]

Website
Local Business

Up Surf Coaching

Andrew Lucas

[email protected]

Website
School

Waitetuna School

Amanda Nasilasila, Principal
Email Office

 

Travis Browne

Email Travis

Sports Club

Whaingaroa Hoe Waka

Sarah Harihari, Chairperson

Email

Website
Community Group

Whaingaroa Weedbusters

Leanne Steele

Email Weedbusters

Website
Community Group

Whaingaroa Youth Movement

Patti Mitchley

[email protected]

Instagram
Local Business

Adrenaline Alley Raglan - Kitesurf & Outdoor Goods

0221862949

Email

Website

Directory of Regional Organisations

Regional Organisation

Sport Waikato

Hadon Westerby, Regional Connectivity Coordinator

[email protected]

 

Amigene Metcalfe, Sport Development Manager

[email protected]

Website

Local Projects being explored

Local Project

Recreation Centre

Matt Kambic

[email protected]

 

Dan Lofland

[email protected]

Local Project

Swimming Pool

Sam Laity, Rangitahi General Manager

[email protected]

Local Project

Connectivity Strategy

Matt Horsfield

[email protected]

Website

What we have

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

Swimming pool

Skatepark upgrade

More walkways & cycleways

Recreation centre/sports facility

Aspirations

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.

Recreation is safe.

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.