The Waitemata Table Tennis Association stadium will accelerate growth in the fast developing Parrs Park area and link in with Henderson’s Waitakere Trusts’ Stadium, which is the main venue for the international competition.

Waitakere Ranges Local Board is supporting Table Tennis New Zealand’s successful bid to host the biennial championships, which is one of the world’s largest table tennis events.

“The organisers say up to 3000 people representing 50 nations will take part in the five-day championships, so it is an event worthy of our support,” says board Chairperson Denise Yates.

“We will continue to work with the Waitemata Table Tennis Association to secure what ever is needed to get on with the stadium project and help make the event happen.”

The new 12-court stadium is designed by Context Architects and will replace an existing five-court asbestos-ridden stadium at Parrs Park.

Waitemata Table Tennis Association committee president Blair Melvin says the extra courts will accommodate the association’s growing membership and give it the capacity to hold national tournaments.

“Everyone enjoys table tennis, from school children through to senior players, so it’s great that we will soon be able to meet this demand and step up our ability to nurture table tennis as a sport that everyone, including the elderly and disabled, can play.”

The Association has produced a number of New Zealand table tennis representatives and its members have competed at national and international competitions. It hosts Special Olympics for both adults and children and holds special nights for coaching senior players.