New Zealand basketballers join neighbourhood support of Cobham School kids

When Turanga Health told Basketball New Zealand that Cobham School students were using a bottomless bucket for a basketball hoop - they immediately wanted to help.

“Basketball New Zealand’s Hoops in Schools initiative was a perfect fit and Cobham School is the first kura in the region to benefit,” says basketball-mad Turanga Health Service Delivery Manager Dwayne Tamatea.

The concept of the Hoops in Schools initiative is to put more fit-for-purpose hoops in primary schools.
Cobham School principal Gina Holmes says she was overwhelmed when she received the offer from Basketball New Zealand.

“Our old basketball area featured a piece of plywood with a bucket nailed to the top with it’s bottom cut out. That one was built by some builders that were working here this year. Before that the kids were playing air shots.”

“I don’t know if anyone realises just how much its going to change everything we do at Cobham School – basketball is definitely being written into the curriculum!”

On Monday [19 October] Cobham School will host New Zealand professional basketball players Thomas Abercrombie and Brooke Blair as they unveil the new hoops during the school’s Hakinakina, Hauhake, Hauora day.

Ms Holmes says as well as celebrating sport (hakinakina) the school community will see the first steps being taken in an exciting new mara kai or food garden project happening at the school. Staff from local orchard and packhouse company Riverland will be on hand helping students build a large raised garden. “We want students to learn how to plant seeds and harvest (hauhake) food for themselves and their whanau.”

There will also be a strong health focus for the day led by local pharmacist Sean Shivnan. Mr Shivnan is supporting the school with education and resources to help whānau overcome common school-age illnesses and infections including eczema and headlice.

Cobham School is a decile 1 school in Elgin with 39 students, three teachers, a kaiāwhina, and a number of ancillary staff. Ms Holmes says Cobham School aims to be at the heart of the community and Hakinakina, Hauhake, Hauora is one way to share the school’s aims and its strengths with school families and the businesses that support it.

​Students from Cobham Kura, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mangatuna, Elgin, Muriwai, Te Hapara, and Patutahi Schools, and Te Kainga Whaiora Children’s Health Camp have also been invited. 

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