Our Mission & Charitable Purpose
To strengthen Central Hawke’s Bay wellbeing by using community sport as a practical, welcoming pathway to better health, fitness, social connection, and active participation.
Why we exist
The Otane Sports Club is a successful Central Hawke’s Bay sports club that competes each year in Rugby and Netball in the winter, and Touch Rugby in the summer. Our club consists of approximately 200 members, and our primary purpose is to provide a stable base in our community where family and friends can play together, get healthier, improve fitness, meet new faces, and enjoy sport in a supportive environment.
We believe sport is a powerful tool for community wellbeing. When people have an accessible place to train, compete, and belong, they are more likely to stay active, develop healthy routines, and build social connections that support mental wellbeing too. We aim to make participation feel achievable—whether someone is returning to sport, joining for the first time, or simply looking for a positive way to connect with others in the community.
In New Zealand, the promotion of sport alone is not automatically charitable; however, sport organisations can be charitable where sport is the means of pursuing a charitable purpose such as promoting health or social inclusion, and where the organisation provides a public benefit and is not run for private gain. [web:16]
- Promote healthier lifestyles through regular physical activity, training, and participation.
- Strengthen social connection by bringing together players, whānau, volunteers, and supporters.
- Encourage inclusion by welcoming new members and helping them feel part of the club community.
- Support community wellbeing by providing a positive, structured environment to be active.
- Run seasonal programmes and organise participation in local competitions.
- Support safe, respectful sport with clear expectations around behaviour and teamwork.
- Enable volunteering pathways (coaching, management, events) that strengthen community participation.
- Keep the club community-focused so benefits extend beyond a small, “elite” group. [web:16]
Note: For sport/recreation charities in New Zealand, organisations are assessed on charitable purpose, public benefit, and avoiding private benefit. [web:16]