Hutt Valley Community staff recently returned to engage with young people participating in the Twilight Basketball series, to show the positive side of policing.
The Friday night sporting programme is the result of a collaboration between Hutt Valley Community Police, Hutt City Council and Walter Nash.
Last week, the whistle to start the evening games was meant to blow at 9pm, but with eager rangatahi lined up and raring to go as early as 8pm, organisers were swayed to get under way sooner.
The keenness of youth is also why the Term 1 Twilight Basketball season began before school was back in session.
Senior Constable Paul Bascand got in the mix of the fast and physical games, taking a couple of elbows to the ribs but still having a great time.
“You could see the young men enjoyed having him on the court,” says Community Sergeant Stephen Cross.
Since the latest season started, there's been an increase in the number of youths attending Twilight Basketball each week and it's no wonder why. With Bob Marley and Buddy Holly filling the airwaves, a sizzling fresh barbecue and four simultaneous half-court games, the atmosphere created in this environment is a slam dunk!
Hutt City Council’s Ross Barber says the numbers are fantastic, but what’s even more exciting is the increasing ethnic diversity of those coming along and the different generations participating.
“We’re seeing family groups from the Philippines, Africa, Pacific Islands, Asia and New Zealanders alongside each other," says Ross. "And how very cool to see grandfathers playing and teaching basketball to their grandchildren.”
The work to get Twilight Basketball off the ground started many years ago.
The programme was started to encourage young people to come to a safe place, get to know some locals, unleash their talent or enthusiasm on the basketball court and get fed after. Essentially, this keeps them off the streets and out of trouble.
Stephen says, “The thought process is that if we wear them out and feed them good, they won't have the energy to engage in any anti-social activity, and they are also making positive connections.”
The community sees the value in what the programme is trying to achieve. Support for the initiative has continued year after year. This includes support from Family Harm Constable Rodney Berg who is a regular volunteer on the barbecue.
Twilight Basketball is held every Friday at the Walter Nash Centre, from 8.30pm till midnight. Free entry, free games, free kai!