Kia ora koutou, Aotearoa Handball Whānau
We are now down to the business end of the Handball calendar, on and off the court, with something for everyone in the weeks ahead. While we lead off with a promo for the Club Champs that are just around the corner, please continue reading through to some important messaging regarding next month’s AGM, with an acknowledgment of our youth and junior women’s teams set to take on the rest of Oceania in October to round out this month’s update.
Club Champs
Not long to go until the pinnacle event on the New Zealand Handball calendar takes place - the 2025 edition of the New Zealand Handball Club Championships. Once again the event will run from Wellington's fabulous Ākau Tangi Sports Centre. For the first time we are running the event over four days, with the opening game throwing off at 4.30pm on Thursday 4 September, the action continuing throughout the days on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th, and the event culminating in the placement games and finals for each division on Sunday 7th.
This year we have another strong showing from our friends across the Tasman. Brisbane will be represented in both the Men's and Women's divisions for the 2nd year in a row, UNSW will be back once again, having become a regular fixture in the Men's division over the past few years, and for the first time we welcome a team from Melbourne to contest the Women's division. And of course there is the usual line up of New Zealand Clubs from around the Motu descending on Wellington to join the local Clubs taking part, with many hardened campaigners and plenty of fresh talent hitting the courts. We look forward to seeing you all in action!
There will be plenty of spectator seating for the main court on Sunday 7 September, where you will be able to witness the Women's bronze medal game at 9am, the Women's final at 11am, and the Men's final at 1pm. All the other placement games will be taking place at 9am or 11am on the other courts, with all games livestreamed thanks to the technical wizardry of New Zealand Handball life member Jun Tanlayco. If you can't get along to watch the action live, be sure to tune in at NZHandballLive YouTube channel
Thanks to the Wellington City Council Sports Event Partnership Fund for its generous support of the event, allowing us to keep the team registration fees down. Thanks also to the cohort of volunteers who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to pull it all together, and our event supporters Trinity Group (and in particular the Cambridge Hotel where the social will be held on the Saturday evening at the conclusion of the day’s action) and the Brentwood Hotel. Our clothing partner Select is also coming to the party with vouchers for tournament award winners.
AGM - 28 September
As if Club Champs wasn't enough excitement for one month, on Sunday 28 September at 8pm we will be holding the 2025 AGM for the New Zealand Handball Federation. As with past years, the AGM will be held online. The agenda and link to the event will be sent to our official Club contacts closer to the time. All New Zealand Handball Stakeholders are welcome to sit in on the event, although only the nominated Club representatives, Life Members and the Executive Committee are able to vote.
Nominations for people wanting to join the Executive Committee to be voted on at the AGM close on Saturday 13 September. If you are interested in rolling your sleeves up to do some of the heavy lifting required to keep New Zealand Handball moving forward, please speak with your Club committee and seek their nomination.
This year's AGM is particularly significant as we consider and vote on changes to our constitution that are required to enable the Federation to re-register under our governing legislation next year. We are also taking the opportunity to tweak a few of the provisions in the constitution to better align with how we want to see New Zealand Handball operating. The proposed constitution changes were circulated to the Club contacts earlier in the year, and a final form will be included with the agenda when that is sent out next month. If you would like to have a look at what the proposed replacement constitution looks like, please contact secretary@handball.org.nz.
IHF Trophy - women's Under 17 and Under 19 selections
Congratulations to our youth and junior Women's players who have gained selection to represent New Zealand at the IHF Trophy in the Cook Islands in October! We know it has been a fairly intense few months for you all with multiple training camps and many taking part in Handball League Aotearoa. We look forward to seeing you put all that hard work into action come mid-October. To those that missed the selection cut, I am sure there will be other opportunities for you in the future. Hopefully you have all enjoyed the taste of participating in a New Zealand handball high performance squad - and that taste has left you hungry for more!
Yours in Handball
David Ireland
President, New Zealand Handball Federation