What We Do
Te Paerangi - Our Vision: ReCreate a Nation
Imagine an Aotearoa where recreation has created a mutually flourishing connection between atua (ancestors), whenua (land) and tāngata (people). An Aotearoa where mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) is celebrated and the mana of the respective world views of Tāngata Whenua (Māori) and Tāngata Tiriti (non-Māori) are mutually respected and mutually flourishing.
Te Pae Tawhiti – Our Mission: Enhancing wellbeing through recreation
On the horizon our communities are flourishing and connected through recreation, and we engage in recreation in a way that enhances our shared identity and heritage as proud tāngata o Aotearoa. The wellbeing of people, society and the environment is enhanced. World class and uniquely Aotearoa experiences have reconnected people to place and nature through recreation.
Strategic plan 2020 - 2025
Our mahi is guided by Te Whai Oranga, our strategic plan 2020 – 2025.
Statement of Strategic Intent
Our Statement of Strategic Intent, Our Waka Horua Voyage 2020 – 2025, defines KPIs and measures the outcomes within our strategic Plan Te Whai Oranga. These two documents sit side-by-side. They articulate our aspirations for the years ahead and provide a framework for how we will measure success.
Download Our Waka Hourua Voyage 2020-2025
What we do
We enhance wellbeing through recreation by:
- building capability and networks within the recreation workforce
- raising awareness of best practice, and
- advocating for the benefits of recreation, recreation investment and a highly skilled recreation workforce that meets the needs and expectations of participants.
Our sectors
The recreation industry encompasses the people, places, and processes that create recreation experiences in:
- aquatics and facility-based recreation
- community recreation
- parks, playgrounds and open spaces
- the outdoors.
Mahi Ngātahi
In 2024, we’re undertaking a review of our constitution and governance. We’ve set this up as a project we’ve called Mahi Ngātahi, Working Together.
Who we represent
Our members are passionate recreation professionals. They’re:
- local government staff
- recreation policy makers
- voluntary organisations
- regional sports trust
- government agency staff
- commercial leisure providers
- recreation planners
- facility managers and staff
- programme and event managers
- community arts leaders
- outdoor recreation businesses
- another others involved in the delivery of recreation in Aotearoa!
Read the Recreation Aotearoa Constitution
Our people
Our team come from a range of places and spaces. But we all share a passion for recreation and share the vision to ReCreate a Nation. Our office is based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara but our team is dotted around the mōtū.
Our Governance
We are a charitable body governed by a national board of seven people. Our local networks and service delivery is governed by six regional committees. Separate advisory groups and committees have been established to support the development and delivery of our programmes.