The safety of young children participating in sports activities at the Tupapa Maraerenga field prompted the construction of the new Rangi Marumaru Water Station.

The water station was built by Minister George “Maggie” Angene, the Member of Parliament for Tupapa.

Angene said seeing young kids trying to cross the busy Main Rd to refill their water bottles at the meeting house convinced him to get started on building a water station.

“I don’t like to see the young netball girls crossing the busy road to fill their bottles, it’s not safe for them, so I thought why not build one right here at the sports ground next to the netball court that is close by for them to use,” he said.

“And this water station is not just for the sports people, it is for the community.”

Resident Maru Isaia also contributed to the water station, by sponsoring materials, Randolf George Electricians hooked up the wiring, the pump, filter and the light, and Angene himself built the solid concrete structure.

Angene said he will build another water station at the other end of the rugby field (National Auditorium side).

He would like to put a message out to the community to “respect” the water stations, to keep them clean, and for children not to use the bench like a chair.

“I want to ask the people to please look after it, don’t play with the water or the station like it’s a playground and don’t sit on the bench,” said Angene.