Meri Kirihimete, Aotearoa Handball Whanau!
Hard to believe it, but we are nearly at the end of another year of Handball, Kiwi-style.
Looking back
It has been a year of firsts for us:
The inaugural Handball League Aotearoa to provide us with our first ever regional championship played over more than just a single weekend,
Five teams from overseas attending another successful National Club Champs, the first time more than two non-New Zealand Clubs have been represented;
Our first ever senior win on the indoor handball international stage at this year's Asian Men's Handball Championships to start the year, and
Perhaps most significantly for the future of Handball in New Zealand, inaugural intermediate school tournaments in Auckland and Wellington to hopefully provide us with a blueprint for years to come.
But the focus of this message is not on the past, but the excitement of what lies ahead!
IHF Trophy Oceania Championships
After a year of uncertainty, our under 18 and under 20 boys have finally taken off for Tahiti to compete in the Oceania qualification round of the IHF Trophy, seeking a place in next year's U19 and U21 Intercontinental Championships.
The competition is going to be fierce. Our teams are well prepared and have put in the mahi over the past few months. With a good mix of experience from the previous campaign and some exciting new talent both teams look as strong as any that have ever represented New Zealand, but on regional powerhouse Tahiti's home soil it won't be easy.
All games will be livestreamed, with the opening game for New Zealand our U18s playing at 8am on Tuesday. Check out details on our FaceBook page
Games are live broadcast on the IHF Competitions YouTube channel
Go well, boys - no pressure, but the hopes of a nation are on your capable shoulders!
Best wishes also to New Zealand's refereeing pair selected to help officiate at the championship, Herve Roy and Willy Makea. No trophies up for grabs for you two, but just as much pressure to perform.
2025 Schedule
The calendar of events for next year is slowly taking shape, and we will keep the schedule updated as events get locked in. For now, you can lock in Club Champs in Wellington (starting Thursday afternoon 4 September and concluding 3pm Sunday 7 September) and the finals weekend of Handball League Aotearoa in Christchurch for the weekend of 11-12 October.
At this stage a venue has not been able to be secured for the traditional Queenstown tournament so that one is up in the air, and that impacts on Auckland confirming the timing of its early-season Open and the opening weekend of the 2025 edition of Handball League Aotearoa . As always, we will endeavour to lock in events as far in advance as we can, and will keep our website calendar of events updated as bookings are confirmed.
Of course, the Beach schedule for the summer ahead is well baked in - see last month's Beach season announcement for full details It is another action-packed season on the sand, culminating with the Aussie Club Champs at the start of April, with plenty for everyone on the way. And this year's summer holds special significance for our youth female beach players as the squad to represent New Zealand and Oceania at next year's U17 Beach Handball World Champs takes shape.
Final word for 2024
All up, 2024 has been a year of some successes and some really encouraging areas of developing strength, but not without its challenges and plenty to work on to ensure Handball continues to thrive for the years ahead. Thank you to our wonderful community of supporters and the volunteers who have made it all happen, and we look forward to your contributions in the year ahead.
For those from the Aotearoa Handball whanau taking to the road or the skies this holiday season, safe travels, and we look forward to seeing on or beside a Handball court in 2025.
David Ireland
President
New Zealand Handball Federation