Our Philosophy – "More Than Sport"
At Awatea, running, jumping, and throwing are just the beginning.
We believe the track can become a training ground for life – a place where parents, coaches, supporters, and athletes can come together to create ‘more than sport’ moments that will outlive any memories of personal bests and podium finishes.
Awatea is a space where we all work collaboratively to support those we love in finding joy in their development journey, both in sport and beyond. We want to grow better people through our time at the track, making Awatea ‘more than sport’ for everyone involved, young and old.
We strive to create programs that put people first.
To do this, we are constantly curious, continually asking ourselves:
Is this a welcoming and fun environment?
Would athletes and volunteers want to return time and time again, even on the tough days?
What are we really teaching here?
Can it be deeper than just running, jumping, and throwing? Can it truly be more than sport?
What’s the rush?
Athletics is a late-development sport, with most athletes peaking between 26 and 32 years old. Are we fostering a lifelong love for the sport, or are we heading for burnout?
Are we teaching life skills?
Are we promoting self-awareness, self-management, and patience, or are we risking unhealthy relationships with sport through over-training and a sole focus on winning?
Are we building foundations?
We know athletics is a foundational sport, and it won’t be the “end game” for everyone in our community. Are we creating a space where everyone can learn, develop athletically, and grow as individuals, even if athletics isn’t their main focus or they don’t wish to compete?
Is everyone seen and valued?
Can everyone feel welcome, heard, and connected here? Are we open to growing with them and learning from them?
Our Identity & Values
Awatea means – Dawn of a new day
“Ka pō, ka pō, ka awatea.” (Out of the darkness, out of the darkness, into the light.)
This powerful identity is woven into the design of our uniform, merchandise, and logo, designed by founder Adrian Dinnissen. The design features the rising sun over the Canterbury Plains, with the logo representing an athletics track illuminated by the morning sun.
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We want every moment at Awatea to be an opportunity for a new beginning – something that is always ‘more than sport.’
This philosophy is actively reflected in our operational values:
- Connection First
- Effort & Attitude Over Outcome
- Curiosity & Learning
- Autonomy & Ownership
Our Story & The People Behind It
When someone asks you to start an athletics club, I’m not sure what your first reaction might be… ours was certainly mixed.
While an exciting idea, the endeavor seemed so big and unknown. Where do you even start?
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It turns out you start with a Facebook ad asking for people to sign a certificate of incorporation. In reality, that looked like driving around to strangers’ homes, gathering signatures in the middle of winter in 2023. Many of those strangers would go on to become very good friends!
Since then, the Awatea journey has been a whirlwind for founders Adrian and Helena Dinnissen and the incredible team supporting the club. We have rapidly grown to become the largest athletics club in the South Island, doubling our membership in our first two years. Now with a board of 9, over 120 parent volunteers and 10 contract coaches – all together contributing over 500 volunteer hours per year!
From our first club night – managing over 170 young athletes with barely any equipment on a grass field – to now running programs five to six days a week, year-round, with athletes competing internationally, it’s humbling to see the growth and the community that stands behind it.
The Vision That Drives Us
Helena’s own youth athlete journey deeply shaped the club’s core values:
Read more of her story here...
“I was a talented young athlete who quit the sport before ever really learning what I was capable of. I was one of those athletes that fell through the cracks. I never found a place I belonged, where someone believed in me, and I just gave up. So many of my best childhood memories are athletics-related, and I wanted to create an opportunity for my kids and others to also create amazing memories. But more so, a place where everyone could feel seen, heard, and valued – where no one would fall through the cracks like I did. This is the club I wish I could have been a part of as a young person.” – Helena Dinnissen
Now leading our coaching team and senior squad, Helena (who also proves you are never too old to get back into it as a World Masters Champion) has been recognized as one of New Zealand’s top developing coaches. She has now led ANZ teams overseas and coached at the Oceania Championships and World Under-20 Championships.
Our Coaching Team
Our wider coaching team brings together passionate parents sharing their own athletic skills alongside many talented local senior athletes who help inspire and raise up the next generation.
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- Nick Palmer (World Championship and Commonwealth Games Shot Putter) supports our coach & volunteer development program.
- Our coaching roster includes top New Zealand athletes such as Maddy Wilson, Felix MacDonald, Tia Whynyard, Max Atwell and Kahurangi Cotterill.
- Along with many skilled parent coaches such as James Belsham, Zach Unger & Tom Nisbet.
Building ‘More Than Sport’ Moments
Awatea wouldn’t be what it is without the dedicated parents who have worked together through the Board, sub-committees, working bees, and coaching teams to create something truly special.
By bringing a wide range of talents, experiences, and skills together, we support each other, the club, and the athletes.
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The real, thriving heart of our community is the people sharing their time and expertise so we are all better off together. You can see it every week:
- Local firemen wetting down the long-jump pit.
- Architects drafting development plans.
- Lawyers helping write policy.
- Data analysts sharing personal best stats.
- Business owners sponsoring programmes.
- Members donating sandbags, digging pits, sorting equipment, and folding uniforms.
Together, we are creating ‘more than sport’ moments— – not only for our own children but for thousands of athletes and their families in the years to come.