Titahi Bay School has secured a $150,000 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) to construct a Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) canopy over its basketball courts, ensuring students and the wider Porirua community can enjoy year-round sports and activities.
The school, known for its strong community ties, already offers after-hours access to its pump track, turf field, and courts.
Principal Matthew Tilley says “The new canopy will enhance and showcase the school’s commitment to active, connected learning.”
“Our basketball league brings together forty teams from Porirua and Tawa primary schools, creating a vibrant hub of community activity,” says Tilley. “Thanks to this generous NZCT grant, the new canopy will allow us to run the league year-round – rain or shine – giving our tamariki more opportunities to play, stay active, and develop their skills, Tilley says.”
Beyond basketball, the covered space will support daily play, PE classes, Kapa Haka practices, and school events, offering vital protection from both sun and rain. Tilley described the COLA as a “lasting symbol of the strength of community partnerships and our shared commitment to healthy, active lifestyles for generations to come.”
Jacinta Kelleher, Head of Sport at Titahi Bay School, highlighted the broader impact: “A gymnasium is often not financially realistic for primary schools, so this canopy is the next best thing.”
NZCT’s General Manager of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges, praised the project’s broad community benefits. “This project ticks all the boxes – sport, culture, learning, and connection – and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” Hodges said. “Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the responsible gaming partnerships we share with our local venues Legends Bar, the Mariner, and the Sandbar Mana.”
The canopy construction is set to begin later this year, marking another step forward in continuing Porirua’s reputation as a vibrant, connected community.