Latest news with #JeffLatch
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ's Public Sporting Infrastructure At Risk As Local Govt Eyes Green Spaces
Senior figures in New Zealand sport are calling for greater protection of the country's urban sporting infrastructure, as Auckland Council considers converting the nation's most-used golf course into a stormwater reservoir. Thousands of local residents who oppose the plan say the Council's proposal would require significant regulatory approvals and lengthy Environmental Court hearings, taking years to implement. They argue that an alternative dry-basin flood management design, developed by an international golf course architect, would not require resource consent and could be delivered much earlier, preserving the full 18-hole course as a regional asset. Golf NZ CEO Jeff Latch is concerned with the Council's proposal and says the threat to the Takapuna course is emblematic of a wider crisis facing recreational land supply throughout the country. 'Right now there is a chronic shortage of outdoor sporting space in urban centres. Currently, golf is the most played sport in New Zealand with over half a million Kiwis playing each year, including an estimated one in every ten Aucklanders. Latch says numbers are up 50% in the past five years and junior participation in the sport has increased by 25% in the past 12 months alone. 'Takapuna is one of the few remaining public 18-hole courses in Auckland, and it plays a vital role in providing affordable, accessible sport for a fast-growing and diverse population. I do worry that counsellors aren't aware of just how big a sport golf is now. 'We haven't built a new public golf course in Auckland for decades. So to consider taking one away and the busiest one at that makes absolutely no sense. The course is an essential piece of infrastructure in a part of Auckland where recreational spaces are already under pressure.' 'Public courses like Takapuna are critical for growing the game; they are entry points for juniors, up and coming amateurs, retirees and casual players alike. The perception that golf is an elite sport is outdated. Courses like Takapuna prove it's a game for everyone. This isn't just about golf, it's about urban green space, health, inclusion and making sure we don't strip away the few public facilities we have left. We don't get the chance to create new public golf courses in cities anymore and if we start removing the ones we have, the future of accessible sport in our cities is in real trouble.' Mike Bishop, CEO of Harbour Sport says Takapuna Golf is a 'jewel' in the sport and recreation crown for the North Shore and the area needs more of these facilities not fewer. 'Once you pave over these spaces, they're gone for good and with the North Shore's rapid population growth we simply can't afford a mistake like this. 'This is a public course with reasonable fees that anyone can book. During weekends and evenings, you'll see people walking the course just for exercise, it's a public asset with significant community value and we cannot lose it. 'This is not just a golf course but a vital recreational area for the local community. During COVID this space was a lifeline for physical activity. It's a green area used by thousands every month,' says Bishop. In addition to the loss of recreational space, local property experts estimate the closure could also wipe millions from surrounding real estate values and significantly reduce future Council rates revenue. 'I was there at the meeting when Takapuna Golf presented an alternative design developed by experts that meets flood protection goals and preserves the course for the community. It will not only address the flood dissipation issue but will retain the golf course in a slightly altered fashion and ensure that key neighbouring public facilities such as Eventfinda Stadium will not be compromised as happened in the floods of 2023. 'The situation requires a commonsense approach that will achieve what Auckland Council requires and ensure that there remains a proactive long-term approach to recreation, sport and community health infrastructure,' he says. Latch says the macroeconomic benefits golf provides to the country should not be underestimated. 'Golf is thriving in New Zealand, not just in the traditional 18-hole format, but across a growing number of variants. 'We're seeing incredible performances from our elite players on the world stage, a surge in amateur success internationally, and rapid growth in areas like simulator golf and golf-based gaming, this is all feeding into a groundswell of momentum for the sport. 'Golf tourists are among the highest-yielding visitors to New Zealand, particularly those from the United States. They spend more here than almost any other type of traveller. 'There's a real opportunity to attract more of these high-value visitors, especially if Auckland's courses work together to market the region as a golf destination. Queenstown has done a really great job of that, they've built a compelling international golf tourism offering and Auckland could be doing the same. 'Tourism NZ figures show overseas visitors who are golfers, particularly from North America and Australia, typically play five to seven rounds per trip and spend generously across accommodation, hospitality and retail; that's a major economic opportunity we can't ignore. 'Golf is unique in that it is a sport that can be played throughout your entire life. The strongest level of growth is coming from kids under the age of 18, which is incredibly exciting for the future of the sport. 'Local government has a key role to play in looking at this holistically and ensuring we can continue to capitalise on these opportunities,' he says.
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Golf NZ rejects council plan to halve Takapuna course for use as flood catchment
The 10th tee at the Takapuna Golf Course. Photo: Davina Zimmer Golf NZ says converting half of a prominent Auckland golf course into a stormwater reservoir would be a missed opportunity. Auckland Council was in the early stages of comparing two plans to incorporate a flood catchment into the Takapuna Golf Course, including its proposal to convert half of the course into a flood catchment and recreational area. The council's proposal was to use the land to capture about 550,000 litres of water during a storm, reducing the flood risk to 10 hectares of homes, nearby schools and North Shore Hospital. Council was working with Takapuna Golf Club to assess the feasibility of an alternative proposal for flood catchment that would retain the 18-hole golf course. The Wairau catchment was one of the most severely flooded areas during the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods and two lives were lost in the area. More than 100 homes in the nearby suburb Milford have so far been condemned due to the flooding as part of the council's buy-out scheme - the most of any suburb in Auckland. Golf NZ chief executive Jeff Latch was not in favour of converting half of the golf course into a stormwater reservoir. Golf NZ chief executive Jeff Latch does not want half of Takapuna Golf Course to be converted into a stormwater reservoir. Photo: Supplied "Golf in New Zealand is on an absolute high, the growth that's taken place in terms of golf club membership has been 50 percent in the last five years. "If you think about that for a mature sport like golf, that is just colossal growth," he said. "Auckland's got a real issue, there's this massive growth in demand and people wanting to play golf but we don't have enough golf courses and so public golf courses like Takapuna are absolutely critical to enable golfers to actually go out and have a hit." Latch said Golf NZ was backing an alternative proposal to keep all of the course's 18 holes but use some of the land for dry-basin flood management. "We absolutely need a solution here that enables the golf course to stay and for the flood protection issue to be addressed, and we believe there is a solution that does both of those things. "By redesigning the existing course there's the opportunity to preserve Takapuna as an 18-hole golf course while also providing the area required for flood protection." He said cutting the course in half would be wasting a valuable asset. "From a golfing perspective [it would be] incredibly detrimental to enabling people in Auckland to play the game they love. "As the population of Auckland continues to grow, land is obviously at a real premium and particularly land for recreational facilities. So green spaces like the Takapuna Golf Course are absolutely critical for the future." "I think as a green space in Auckland where we're really pushed for land it's critical that it's maintained." Harbour Sport chief executive Mike Bishop agreed the North Shore needed more golf facilities, not fewer. "This is a public course with reasonable fees that anyone can book. During weekends and evenings, you'll see people walking the course just for exercise, it's a public asset with significant community value and we cannot lose it. "During Covid this space was a lifeline for physical activity. It's a green area used by thousands every month." Council was still considering the feasibility of the two options and construction on any approved plan for the flood catchment at the golf course was not expected to begin until 2027. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Autocar
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Hyundai and Golf New Zealand recommit to partnership
Hyundai New Zealand has announced an extension of its partnership with Golf New Zealand. Both parties are recommitting to growing the love of golf across the country. Hyundai has demonstrated longstanding support for golf through its partnership with Golf New Zealand and The New Zealand Open. The latest extension with Golf New Zealand highlights its ongoing support of the sport and for Kiwi golfers. 'We've been involved in the game since 2018, at a professional and grassroots level, through our partnership with Golf NZ. 'Together we are focused on growing golf here in New Zealand and adding real value to the local golfing community'. So says Michelle Langdon, GM Marketing at Hyundai New Zealand. Golf New Zealand CEO, Jeff Latch, said he was proud to announce the continuation of the longstanding partnership. 'Golf New Zealand is thrilled to announce the continued support of Hyundai New Zealand. 'It is great to have a partner that is enthusiastic about golf and golfers around the country.' Read the NZ Autocar review of the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy here. Throughout the partnership with Golf New Zealand, Hyundai New Zealand has run a successful gift-with-purchase programme. It makes a $500 contribution towards golf club memberships, for any Golf New Zealand member who purchases a new Hyundai. It has also hosted a series of Hyundai Futures Festival events around the country, encouraging a lifelong love of golf amongst young Kiwis. 'Our golfers have real benefits through the partnership. We are delighted to continue to deliver on those across multiple facets of the game' said Latch. Golf New Zealand and Hyundai New Zealand share closely aligned values. Both organisations are committed to connecting with communities and families, inspiring the next generation, embracing innovation, and promoting environmental sustainability.
