Case study: Play and physical activity in Cobden

Over the past 18 months, Sport Canterbury has engaged with the Cobden community on a range of kaupapa, led by our West Coast team.

Te Kura o Cobden has been one of Sport Canterbury's Healthy Active Learning (HAL) schools since 2022. In late 2023, Sport Canterbury initiated a Neighbourhood Play System (NPS) project with the school, culminating in the NPS Te Kura o Cobden School report.

Around the same time, Sport Canterbury began supporting the Grey District Council in the development of a Play, Active Recreation and Sport (PARS) Strategy.

These kaupapa focus on tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and the wider community, emphasising their voices and perspectives. They aim to understand the physical activity and health needs of people who live, learn, work and play in the area.

HAL is a joint Government initiative led by Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, the Ministry of Education Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora and Health NZ Te Whatu Ora. It supports schools, kura and early learning services to improve the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi through healthy eating and drinking, quality physical activity and effective curriculum delivery.

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The NPS model, developed by Sport NZ, reflects the understanding of Play taking place across a wide neighbourhood and community system, including driveways, streets, parks, green spaces and alleys. 

It aims to address knowledge about how informal play systems are planned, designed and delivered, to activate spaces and communities and support positive play outcomes.

The vision for the PARS Strategy, meanwhile, is to guide aspirations and understand the participation needs in Play, Active Recreation and Sport for the vibrancy of communities and spaces and places in the Grey District.  

In addition to the ongoing support provided to Te Kura o Cobden by Mel Packham, Sport Canterbury West Coast's HAL Advisor, projects directly related to these kaupapa include a play stencil activation at the school and a Surf Life Saving water safety day.

"It was a great day that students looked forward to and reminisced on with joy," a Cobden School teacher says of the Surf Life Saving water safety day.

The Cobden Community Group has been a fantastic enabler of multiple opportunities within the NPS report and the PARS strategy already. 

"This group is delivering positive change in the community, creating safe spaces and opportunities for our young people to play and live," says Jack O'Connor, Sport Canterbury's West Coast Regional Manager. "Utilising the insights from the NPS report and PARS Strategy has been invaluable in identifying priority projects by listening to our tamariki and whānau."

The group’s activities that align with the NPS report include the Richmond St playground upgrade project, the development of interpretation panels, the ongoing development of the Cobden Aromahana Sanctuary Recreation Area (CASRA), a wayfinding project and a focus on topics such as road speeds, footpath enhancement and local beach accessibility.

Many of these projects also align with the PARS Strategy, with additional projects including supporting a ‘Spring into Summer Gala’, the new leadership at Cobden Sports Complex based at Jellyman Park and the Cobden boat ramp upgrade.

"As volunteers, we appreciate the value these pieces of work provide to support our understanding of community needs," says Cobden Community Group Chair Anita Smith. "We can then set priorities to deliver projects that improve whānau lives in Cobden."

These interconnected pieces of mahi foster relationships and empower communities. They encourage connection, collaboration and contribution to Play, Active Recreation and Sport (PARS) opportunities that support the vibrancy of Cobden’s people and places.

Article added: Tuesday, September 23, 2025