Several Ōpōtiki primary schools have received reinforcements in the ball department.

Layne Cooper and Duane Dalton from the Tania Dalton Foundation drove around the district, dishing out rugby, netball and soccer balls to schools.

Their first stop was Kutarere School, followed by Waiotahe Valley School where the Ōpōtiki News caught up with the team.

“We are a small school, and this means a lot to us,” principal Tai Miskell said.

Mr Cooper, a former St Joseph’s Catholic School student, said he was a close friend of Tania Dalton’s husband, Duane, who set up the foundation in her memory.

Tania Dalton was a Silver Ferns netballer and sporting personality who died unexpectedly from a medical event on March 1, 2017.

The foundation gives out scholarships to young sportswomen, supporting them to be the “best they can be” and runs a campaign called Pass It Forward, donating sports equipment to those in need.

Mr Cooper said Ashbrook, Omarumutu, St Joseph’s Catholic, Torere and Ōpōtiki Primary School received sports balls.