NZRA Announces National Conference Highlights

The New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) has announced details of its major speakers and events for its 2010 Annual Conference. With the theme ‘Connect … The Dots, the conference presents potential delegates with opportunities to ‘Connect’ policy and practice, politics and programmes – and delegates with their industry colleagues.

The conference is being held from 18th to 20th October at Wellington’s Victoria University.

The programme includes national politicians and policy makers, captures the latest from researchers and thought leaders, and showcases creative ways of connecting the dots and creating synergies between partner agencies that work within our communities. Professionals from political, environmental, social, cultural and economic spheres will highlight the often invisible connections with recreation.

Confirmed key note speakers include:

• Professor Marilyn Waring, Professor of Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology. Marilyn will speak about genuine progress indicators in our communities. For example, how do we connect evidence and focus-group/public polling politics, and what tools are available for communities to determine their own trade-offs at local levels to enhance their well-being?

• Catherine Bates, General Manager of Consumer Marketing for Tourism NZ. Catherine’s session will focus on marketing trends within tourism and recreation.

• Dr Sir Ngatata Love, Professor of Business Development at Victoria University, Emeritus Professor at Massey University and a member of the Massey University Council. From his position of leadership of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, together with the Wellington Tenths Trust, Ngatata will address the role of Mana Whenua in providing commercial recreation and tourism in Wellington.

• Professor David Shilbury, Chair of the Sport Management Programme at Deakin University’s School of Management & Marketing, Melbourne. David is a key thought leader in the world of sport. His session will provide a comparative approach to the ‘whole of sport’ models currently being implemented in New Zealand and Australia. He will outline the model, and explore the recreational dimension with specific focus on the recreation and sport role of local government as a key stakeholder.

• Mansoor Khawaja, Principal Demographer, Statistics New Zealand. Mansoor’s lecture will cover emerging demographic trends and their implications for the recreation industry.

• Suzie Dale, Director of Research, The Nielson Company, NZ. Suzie was the lead researcher on Les Mills International’s ‘Future of Fitness’ white paper which brought together data, expert opinion and informed speculation to form a view of the future of the global fitness industry. She will speak about the findings of this research and implications for a variety of industries, including recreation.

Field Trips

Also confirmed are a number of field trips and workshops, to be held on Wednesday 20th October, the final day of the conference. Though optional, these events are strongly recommended as fantastic opportunities to see some of the best of what the Wellington region has to offer in terms of recreation. It should be mentioned as well that participation in these events will include airport transfers. Confirmed field trips and workshops include:

• Pools and Facilities – a visit to the Porirua City Community Services Cluster including Pataka – Museum of Arts and Culture, Central Library, Upoko Skate Park, Te Rauparaha Park, Te Rauparaha Arena, the Arena Aquatic Centre and the Arena Fitness Centre; as well as the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre, the Pelorus Trust Sports House, Sportsville Hutt City Council and Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt

• Sport and Recreation Projects – a look at Nairnville Park Artificial Sportsfield, Maranui Surf Life Saving Club and the Wellington Indoor Community Sports Centre (under construction)

• Arts, Culture and Heritage – showing off Wellington, the Creative Capital, with a tour including City Gallery, a Wharewaka viewing, Te Papa, Meridian Energy Wind Sculpture Series, St James Theatre and Toi Poneke

• Open Spaces and Parks – a trip to Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park, FROKS (Friends and Residents of Karori Stream), Zealandia, the Hutt River Trail and the Wellington Waterfront including Waitangi Park

• Community Engagement – Find out more about the diverse people in your communities and what they want for recreation. This session, led by Mary-Jane Rivers, Development Manager of Inspiring Communities, is an opportunity to hear the voices of the community, workshop recreation ideas that your community will embrace and share some case studies from people who are doing it now.

Awards Dinner

The NZRA Awards Dinner will be held at Te Papa on Tuesday 19th October.

For more information visit the NZ Recreation Association website www.nzraevents.org.nz

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