Morrisseys Supporting Local Initivities.
Supersports, The Skate Park and Cougar Park would rank highly on anyone’s list of the best things about Tokoroa. Morrissey’s has been instrumental in the construction, organisation and longevity of our district’s great assets.
Supersports, the world-famous multisport event in town and beyond, was organised, administrated, and run by Larry (Morrissey’s owner) for over 20 years. This great event has raised over $350,000 for local sports people and also, as an event, has been enjoyed by thousands of competitors. Larry put the necessary time into the event from the back office at Morrissey’s while the staff ran the business; he put over 100 hours a year into the event and is proud that the event is still running and even more popular than ever.
Tokoroa’s Skate Park is a world-class facility that draws boarders and riders from all over the country to ride its well-designed and built Park, which offers unique lines and drop-offs to other parks in the country. Evan Dickinson, who has worked at Morrissey’s for over 20 years, was the instigator who coerced the local Council to build a new park in town. Interestingly enough, this new Park was meant to replace a park Evan had constructed with the help of big local corporations when he was still a teenager. Evan is the driving force behind local skateboarding, and he has been able to offer his time with the assistance of those at Morrisseys who would cover for him. At the same time, he was down project managing the construction and finish of the skate Park that stands today just off the main road. He started it, oversaw its build, and now rides it with the locals.
Cougar Park is Tokoroa’s home to mountain biking, and this world-class facility is what it is due to the vast amount of work Larry has done and still does for the Tokoroa Mountain Bike Club. Not only would you see Larry out in the Park more often with a shovel or rake than on a bike, but Larry has single-handedly obtained all of the funding that has gone into the Park. Close to 1 million dollars has been spent on Cougar Park, and the man from Morrissey’s has sourced it all. Larry has poured a lifetime of hours into Cougar Park over the last 16 years, and the town and district benefit hugely from the events. Park users come from all over the country and use this facility. All of the hours are done from his desk at Morrissey’s.
Morrissey’s is famous for giving back to the community, and there is hardly a fundraiser that does not include a contribution from Morrissey’s. Whilst the contribution may only be a couple of vouchers, the total amount given to the community over the years would be eye-watering.
Morrissey has a longstanding relationship through more significant sponsorship with the SURF rugby club and Tokoroa Squash Club, and the whole town benefits from the contributions not only directly from the business but also from the work of the staff.
