The Pakuranga United Rugby Club took the next step in the organisation’s growth on Friday with the facilities being officially rebranded as the Howick Pakuranga Community Sport Centre. 

The launch saw Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, members of the Howick Local Board, Sport Auckland, various sporting bodies as well as life members and loyal club members come together to celebrate the evolution of the club. 

The Howick Pakuranga Community Sports Centre is the official home of Pakuranga United Rugby, Pakuranga United Netball, Pakuranga Touch, Lloyd Elsmore Park Badminton, Howick Pakuranga Baseball and the Tamaki Lightening American Football Club. 

Club Cultural Liaison Irena Giles opened the event with a blessing before Club Chairman Rob Neil spoke to guests. 

He thanked those in attendance and spoke to the recent facility upgraded undertaken ahead of the club being an official training venue for Rugby World Cup 2021. 

“The vision was to create a home for all sports and all people in East Auckland and to add value to our community; the facilities that have been upgraded are second to none,” said Neil. 

Neil acknowledged the work of Shaun Ryan and his team in the upgrades and alluded to futures plans which include an extension to the badminton facility, improvements to the garden bar, more flood lighting and an all-weather training facility. 

Member of Parliament for Pakuranga, Simeon Brown, is a proud supporter of the club and said it was an honour to cut the ribbon to official open the new facilities. 

He paid credit to the leadership of the club, in particular Club Manager John East, Chairman Rob Neil and President Mike Biddick for steering the club. He also acknowledged the pathway the club creates for young people in the community. 

“You provide an opportunity for young people in our community, not just to play here but on the world stage. This club has been critical in bringing young people up through the ranks right through to representing us on the world stage,” said Brown. 

Board member Donna Kinnane explained the new branding which is proudly on display around the facility and pulls together the history and the future of the club. 

Kinnane said the key was to demonstrate inclusivity as the club continues to expand, with the mantra ‘One club, one culture’ at the heart of the design. 

The key elements of the logo are the shield that encompasses the mantra which is a protective shape and symbolises the many people and roads that come together to unite as one club. 

The central shape depicts the back of a canon which links back to Howick being a strong Fencible settlement in the 1800s. 

The sun’s rays link to Pakuranga’s origins Te Pakūranga-rā-hihi which means, battle of the sun’s rays and also depicts the warmth of the clubs’ diverse community. 

Lastly, but some might say most importantly the core of the logo is the shape of a ball – depicting sport at the heart of our club.

Article added: Tuesday 10 May 2022