Public Engagement Begins Amid Debate Over Invercargill Play Plan

• Invercargill’s play strategy faces resistance from some council members over funding concerns.
• Public engagement on the play strategy will begin in June and run through July.
• Supporters argue the strategy promotes unexpected and accessible forms of recreation.

Invercargill’s new play strategy is encountering opposition from some council members concerned about the funding. In January, local play advocate Damian Puddle presented the strategy to elected members, emphasizing the importance of play and outlining his goals. Puddle’s role, funded by Sport New Zealand, aims to introduce new recreational opportunities beyond traditional playgrounds and sports.

On Tuesday, council parks and recreation manager Caroline Rain presented a follow-up paper, announcing that public engagement for the strategy would start this month. However, some councillors were skeptical about the necessity of a dedicated play advocate.

Councillor Grant Dermody criticized the $300,000 investment over two years, calling it “a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.” He argued, “If we invested that money in a cycling strategy, we’d get a whole lot more benefit for our community.” Councillor Ria Bond shared Dermody’s concerns and also voted against receiving the report.

Not all councillors opposed the strategy. Mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook shared a personal experience that highlighted the benefits of spontaneous play. She recalled seeing a man doing hopscotch on the footpath, stating, “I thought, that’s what play strategy actually enables to happen, is that you actually unexpectedly come across an opportunity and revisit something from your childhood. You don’t always have to have big structures and things like that to engage in play.”

Council manager Rain noted that the organisation has been building relationships with groups and organisations in Invercargill to explore local aspirations for play. The public engagement phase, running from June to July, aims to confirm the strategy’s scope.

Puddle, who completed his PhD in parkour at the University of Waikato in 2019, took on his current role last September. He previously held a similar position at Hamilton City Council, where he successfully integrated play into strategic plans and policies.