Over the past five years across New Zealand, there have been almost 10,000 decisions to take kids into custody – on average, more than five removals every day.

According to stuff.co.nz, the rate of children in care is at a ten-year high, and climbing. These young people are more likely to be imprisoned, lack education, and be in poor health.

Sport Canterbury Chief Executive Julyan Falloon leads a 50-strong team of Systems Innovators, Physical Health, Community Sport and Events Advisors, who share this vision: More People, More Active, More Often.

“Access to play, physical activity and sporting participation have huge value to our tamariki and their wellbeing,” Falloon says.

Lawrence Tau first accepted a role with the Regional Sports Trust in 2017. Within the Community Sport area, he helped empower individuals, targeted communities and groups to provide quality experiences for our young people as coaches, teachers and mentors.

He drove the development of  SportStart Tākaro, an interpretation of Sport Canterbury’s classic SportStart professional development resource.

Through SportStart Tākaro, Tau created access to knowledge on traditional games for anyone with an interest. He was inspired knowing that many young people unlikely to participate in traditional sport could find meaning and motivation in Kī o Rahi and Taonga Tākaro.

Through resources, knowledge sharing and professional development, Lawrence helped teachers understand the value – as well as the rules and the mythology – behind the games.

“Lawrence’s knowledge base and passion for Taonga Tākaro put us in a position to reach out and share the value of these games with a wider audience,” Falloon adds. Alongside his fellow Community Sport Advisors, Tau engaged his communities with a combination of resources, mentoring and professional development.

From this summer, Tau is taking a step outside of his original team into a new role of Community Connector.

His desire to continue to break down barriers for matatahi to access sport, physical activity, active recreation and play shaped his decision to take on a new role and reach even more young people across the region.

“Lawrence will work with kids in care through Oranga Tamariki,” says Falloon, emphasising the role is supported in partnership with Sport Canterbury and Sport NZ. “He will work closely with providers to ensure their services are inclusive of kids in care.”

Tau’s learnings will be actively shared to inform future practice by social workers, providers and whānau. The pilot will give Sport Canterbury the chance to better understand and influence the system around tamariki in care. Through this experience, Sport Canterbury will share valuable learning and insight with the wider Regional Sports Trust network, to better support participation in places where the impact could be massive.

“Every kid has a right to participate in sport, physical activity and play – and get the benefits of it as well,” Tau points out.

He believes a lack of awareness is a limiting factor for many providers – simply “not knowing what is available.”

He looks forward to the chance to innovate and challenge current systems. “It’s the chance to do things a bit differently, to put a lot of energy into something, to challenge myself in a purposeful way.”

Through improved social interaction and positive relationships with adults in their community, Tau believes kids in care can have a much better chance.

“They get a chance to feel a sense of achievement and success – a structured environment as well which is constant."

“Essentially they get to feel a sense of belonging.”

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