The Hauora Tent is a new initiative from Sport Northland’s Healthy Active Learning (HAL) team, created to support tamariki wellbeing at school sporting events in a holistic and inclusive way. Recognising that long days on the field can be exciting, tiring and sometimes overwhelming, the tent offers a relaxed space where children can pause, reset and enjoy a break between games.

School sports days often involve big crowds, long waits and plenty of high energy. The HAL team saw a gap and asked: What if there was a space designed specifically for rest, regulation and connection? From that idea, the Hauora Tent was created.

Positioned slightly away from the busy competition areas, the tent acts as a low‑key hub where tamariki can drop in whenever they need time out. Inside, activities like giant Jenga, cornhole, ring toss and building blocks encourage easy interaction without the pressure of competition. Yoga mats, resistance bands and a foam roller give students the chance to stretch and look after their bodies, while music helps set a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere.

The tent was intentionally designed with all four pillars of hauora in mind, recognising that wellbeing at sports events is about more than only physical performance. By offering a space that supports rest, social connection and self-regulation, the initiative shows how hauora can be woven into everyday school experiences.

The Hauora Tent made its debut at the Paparoa Football Festival, organised by Northern Region Football and hosted by Paparoa School, with Paparoa, Tinopai and Matakohe schools attending. With the festival focused on participation and “having a go” rather than keeping score, it was the perfect setting to introduce a wellbeing centred space. After a short stretching and breathing session to start the day, the HAL team stepped back and let tamariki use the tent in their own way.

Throughout the day, students wandered in and out, some lying quietly on mats, others challenging friends to games, practising yoga poses or simply taking a moment to relax between matches. The tent quickly became a familiar spot students returned to whenever they needed a breather.

Feedback from schools and staff was extremely positive. Teachers appreciated having a hauora focused space available during a busy sports day, with one Principal noting how valuable it was for a student who wasn’t yet ready to join larger group activities. The tent offered a safe, inclusive option where students could feel comfortable without pressure.

Whānau and supporters also made use of the space, using it as a place to connect and unwind. At events like the Have a Go Football Festival, the Hauora Tent naturally became a meeting point for families, reinforcing its role as a shared community space.

Support from partners helped bring the tent to life, with equipment and resources contributed by the Sport Northland Events team and the Cancer Society, helping reinforce key wellbeing and sun‑safety messages.

It was fantastic to see how quickly the tamariki embraced the space. They understood the purpose of the tent straight away and connected with the kaupapa without needing much adult guidance. Initiatives like the Hauora Tent have real potential to influence the culture of school sport, helping create environments where balance, inclusion and care sit comfortably alongside competition.

Since the Football Festival, the tent has also supported tamariki at the NWPSSA swimming event and the Te Kopuru School Triathlon, showing that hauora has a place at every kind of sports day. With more school and interschool events planned, the HAL team hopes wellbeing‑focused initiatives like the Hauora Tent will become a regular feature of the school sport landscape, supporting tamariki to feel refreshed, supported and confident to participate in ways that work for them.

If you have a school event coming up and would like support in setting up a Hauora Tent of your own, get in touch with the Sport Northland HAL team.

Article written by Gemma Mitchell and Elle Tweedie, Healthy Active Learning Kaimahi