Backboard at Flaxmere Park basketball court to be replaced after damage

The Flaxmere Park basketball court was opened in December last year

News that one of the backboards on the new basketball court at Flaxmere Park has been badly damaged is really disappointing for the community, say Flaxmere councillors Henare O’Keefe and Peleti Oli.

The court was installed in December last year as part of the Hoops in Parks initiative, a pilot programme by Hastings District Council, Basketball NZ, Basketball HB and Sport HB to make shooting hoops more accessible for the community.

The Flaxmere Park court was the second to be installed under the programme.

Yesterday, the thick tempered glass of one of the backboards at the Flaxmere Park basketball court was smashed.

Hastings District Council has the hoop in safekeeping and has contacted the suppliers of the backboard to get a new one installed as soon as possible, and the matter has been reported to Police.

Flaxmere councillor Henare O’Keefe said the basketball courts were extremely popular, and that “wall-to-wall whānau can be seen there any day of the week, having the time of their lives".

“It’s more than a basketball court, it’s a haven whereby community get to know and appreciate one another - a community that plays together stays together. 

“We are extremely disappointed about the damage, but despite this we will press on and keep our ‘Fabulous Flaxmere’ fabulous.”

Fellow Flaxmere councillor Peleti Oli agreed.

“It’s gutting, it’s been so positive having these hoops in Flaxmere, especially this one in this central location for everyone to use, and now a few have ruined it for everyone. 

“Henare and I work really hard to get the word out there about all the amazing people and things that are happening in Flaxmere – this is really not cool.”

26 January 2022

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