It quickly became a popular haunt – a place for young people to hang out and shoot hoops, a council facility, a basketball half court opposite Bobby’s on Dive Crescent.

All day, most days – thump, thump, thump of a bouncing basketball, the shuddering of the backboard, the unmistakable rim rattling and the loud banter and laughter of young people killing time and having fun.

“More importantly,” says Janine Cork of the neighbouring Te Tuinga Whanau social services organisation, “it was the sound of young people staying out of trouble.”

Then this week, just two years after being installed at a cost of $60,000, the Tauranga City Council dug it up. The sounds of basketball gave way to the sound of an excavator with a powerful percussion hammer smashing up the concrete court for yet another 40 carparks, stage two of the Dive Crescent carpark upgrade.

“What the hell?” exclaimed one annoyed local when informed of the demolition. “Why did they spend all that money in the first place? They better build another one someplace handy.”

When opened in December 2021, the half court was deemed to be “a short term initiative” to return that part of the waterfront to community use. The Commissioners recognised the popularity of the court, saying it reflected the need for more facilities for teenagers.

Neighbours spoken to by The Weekend Sun admitted to being surprised when the court was installed. Who would come downtown to the fringe of the CBD, to shoot hoops? The kids did. It was constantly in use.

Janine says her son and his mates often use the public hoop on Cameron Road at Gate Pa. “But if it was busy and they were bored, they would climb in the car and go as far as Arataki or downtown to Dive Crescent.” The urge to shoot hoops can be strong.

Each week kids attending Te Tuinga Whanau use the court. “Five kids daily, two or three times a week,” says the Whanau’s Marcia Taikato Whauwhau. “And that’s just us.” Young workers building the Dive Crescent carpark and rail gangs have also been seen spending downtime on the court. A Weekend Sun reporter said he would often see groups of youths at the court as early as 7am on Sunday mornings when he was setting out on a bike ride. First up gets to use the hoop.

“The court was exactly what was needed, a positive space for our rangatahi,” says Marcia Taikato Whauwhau. “And it had pleasantly overshadowed all the homelessness, drunkenness and arguing that has gone on around here.”

Now the Tauranga City Council has listened and acted. “Seeing how popular the half court was and hearing people are keen for such a facility in the city centre, we’ve included a permanent basketball half court in plans for the wider waterfront transformation,” says the TCC’s Gareth Wallis.

It will be located next to the new playground on the central waterfront, and all going to plan, should be open in the second half of next year.

The council’s also looking at how some components of the demolished basketball court can be relocated and reused.