Kids get active at AUT’s South Campus
AUT’s South Campus was turned into a sports field of multi-talented young Kiwi kids on Sunday 19 October, with shotput pro Valerie Adams thrilling the budding athletes with stories of her sporting success, and advice on how to get there.
The Active Post Family Fun Day, organised by Active Post, a division of New Zealand Post, provided children and their parents the opportunity to try their hand at cricket, hockey, waka ama and athletics. Members of the New Zealand’s waka ama team, the Black Caps, White Ferns and Black Sticks were also milling around, taking part in activities and providing the next generation of athletes some top tips for making it in the sporting world.
“We want families to come along and have some fun, try out different sports and meet their sporting heroes,” says New Zealand Post Brand and Community Investment Manager Nicola Airey.
“ActivePost is New Zealand Post’s way of helping build active communities. We can’t think of a better way of kicking off summer than a family day of sport and games.”
“Kids are the future of our country, and I really love that ActivePost programmes introduce them to such a variety of sports and movement,” says New Zealand Post ambassador Valerie Adams.
For Adams it will be the start of a community tour that will go to five centres: Rotorua, Palmerston North, Wainuiomata, Nelson and Kaitaia. In each centre, she’ll host a ‘Get Set Go’ sports session for primary school children in Years 1 and 2.
“It’s really important to connect with our communities, and if I can help inspire people through these events, then I’ve done my job,” says Adams.
As well as the sports activities, a number of giant inflatable slides and a bouncy castle were set up on site and families enjoyed some very sunny Auckland weather and picnic lunches, relaxed on bean bags and listened to live bands and DJs.
A spokesperson for AUT’s South Campus, says it was a great opportunity for the South Campus to have been chosen as the venue sponsor.
“We’re a big part of the South Auckland Community. It was great to open our doors to everyone on the day, show them what our South Campus has to offer, and really connect with the community in a fun, and active environment.”