President's Update - December 2024

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

Oceania Champs: What’s Funded, What’s Not, and How You Can Help

The success of our campaign isn’t just built on the hard work of players, coaches, and supporters—it also depends on financial backing. While we are grateful for the support we’ve received so far, we rely on sponsorships and community contributions to cover the wide-ranging costs of preparing for and participating in the Oceania Championships. Here’s a closer look at the financial aspects of this campaign and how you can help.

Covered Costs

Thanks to the International Handball Federation (IHF), significant portions of our Oceania Championship expenses are already covered, including:

• Flights for players and delegation members.

• Accommodation and meals throughout the event.

This generous support alleviates some of the financial burden, allowing us to focus on preparing for competition.

Player Contributions

Despite the assistance provided, players and their families still face several costs, including:

• Training camp fees: Essential for high-performance preparation.

• Uniforms: Ensuring players are equipped to represent New Zealand professionally.

• Extras: Such as travel insurance, personal equipment, and local transport for training camps and events.

These costs can add up, especially for families who have supported their players throughout the year.

The Role of Sponsorships

As a growing sport, handball in New Zealand lacks dedicated fundraising or corporate sponsorships. To bridge the gap, we rely heavily on:

• Social media visibility: Showcasing our players’ journeys to engage potential sponsors.

• Community networks: Word of mouth and grassroots efforts to connect with businesses and individuals who believe in supporting the next generation of athletes.

Sponsorship isn’t just about funding—it’s about investing in the future of New Zealand handball. By partnering with us, sponsors can:

• Gain brand visibility on a national and international stage.

• Associate their business with values like teamwork, resilience, and community spirit.

• Play a pivotal role in helping young athletes achieve their dreams.

How You Can Help

We’re calling on our community to support this campaign in any way possible:

1. Spread the word: Share our story with friends, colleagues, or businesses that might be interested in sponsorship opportunities.

2. Sponsor a player: Even a small contribution can go a long way in easing the financial burden for our families.

3. Corporate partnerships: If you or someone you know is part of a business that values youth development and sport, we’d love to connect.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or make a contribution, please reach out to us directly.

Written by Thomas Schmider, Head of Delegation U18 & U20 Teams

Chasing Gold: The Journey to the Oceania Champs 2024

The Oceania Handball Championships 2024 are fast approaching, and our Men’s U18 and U20 teams are gearing up to represent New Zealand with pride on the international stage. This men’s campaign is about more than just competition - it’s about building a stronger future for handball in New Zealand, developing our youth talent, and fostering a deep sense of national pride and teamwork.

As we reflect on previous campaigns, we can see the incredible progress we’ve made. The dedication, hard work, and lessons learned from those experiences are now coming to fruition. It’s clear that everyone involved - players, coaches, and supporters alike - is stepping up their game to make a stronger impact on the Oceania stage.

This campaign represents a shift in mindset and ambition. We’re not just participating; we’re striving to make a statement and build a legacy. With the support of our incredible handball community, we’re confident this campaign will inspire not only our players but also future generations to continue growing the sport across New Zealand.

This campaign would not be possible without the incredible efforts of everyone involved - players, supporters, parents, and coaches.

A Special Thank You to Non-Selected Players

To the players who gave it their all but didn’t make the final selection this time - your commitment, courage, and progress have been outstanding. A heartfelt thank you to Carles Pardo, Noah Cunningham, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Hunor Peter, Harry Schirnack, Taylor Brown, Brodie Jones, John Whittaker (due to injury), Brent Manangan, and Lachie Tait.

Each of you has made great strides during this campaign, and we see immense potential in your handball journey. Stay committed, keep training, and you’ll go far in this sport. You are the future of New Zealand handball, and we’re excited to see what you achieve in the coming years.

Our Supporters and Parents

Behind every player is a network of dedicated parents and supporters who make this journey possible. From driving players to training camps and cheering them on during tournaments to helping with billeting during camps, your efforts are invaluable. You are the foundation of our handball community, and your unwavering support means the world to us.

Looking to the Future: Danish Handball Education at ISI Sport Folk High School

We’re always seeking new opportunities to help our players grow and develop. One exciting opportunity is ISI Sport Folk High School in Denmark, a renowned institution offering a world-class handball education and a supportive environment for young athletes.

Several of our players have already attended ISI, including Josh Bruce-Campbell, Stanley Schirnack, and Michael Zanderbergen, who are currently benefiting from its intensive training programme. John Barham also gained valuable experience during his time there before returning to New Zealand to continue his handball journey.

For those who aspire to take their handball journey to the next level, this could be the opportunity for you. ISI offers a personalised development plan focusing on technical, tactical, and mental growth, with support from highly qualified coaches. To learn more about life at ISI and the experiences of our players there, check out our insights shared on social media.

If this is something you or someone you know is interested in, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us @nzyouthhandball or youth@handball.org.nz.

Key Details for the Oceania Championships

The Oceania Championships are just around the corner, and the excitement is building as our U18 and U20 teams prepare to compete on the international stage. Here are the essential details about the event, its significance, and what we hope to achieve.

Dates and Location

The Oceania 2024 IHF Trophy will take place from 16th to 20th December 2024 in Tahiti, French Polynesia. The competition venue is the Hubert Langy Sports Hall, located in Titioro, near Papeete. This picturesque location sets the stage for an incredible tournament, with training halls in the surrounding area also available for teams to utilise.

Participating Teams

In the Youth (U18) competition, six teams will compete for the trophy:

• New Zealand

• Australia

• Tahiti

• New Caledonia

• Cook Islands

• American Samoa

In the Junior (U20) competition, four teams will compete:

• New Zealand

• Australia

• Tahiti

• New Caledonia

This mix of teams highlights the growth of handball across Oceania, bringing together a diverse array of talent and styles.

Historical Context and Pathway to the World Stage

The Oceania Championships serve as the Continental Phase of the IHF Trophy, a qualification event for the prestigious Intercontinental Phase. Winners of the Intercontinental Phase automatically qualify for the Youth and Junior World Championships.

Our teams have a strong legacy in the Oceania competition:

• 2018 (New Caledonia): U18 claimed 1st place, U20 secured 4th place.

• 2022 (Cook Islands): U18 finished as runners-up, U20 placed 3rd.

This year, we aim to not only reclaim the top spot but also demonstrate how far New Zealand handball has come in developing competitive teams and players.

Team Aspirations

Our goal is clear: to bring home gold. However, success isn’t measured only by podium finishes. A successful campaign means seeing players grow, playing with joy and unity, and competing at a level that reflects the hard work and dedication poured into this campaign.

• For the players, this is a chance to test themselves against the best in the region.

• For the team, it’s about strengthening bonds and showcasing our progress on the Oceania stage.

For the delegation, it’s about ensuring every player has an experience that fuels their passion for the game.

Final Comments

As we approach the Oceania Championships, we want to thank everyone who has supported this campaign - parents, coaches, and fans. Your contributions have been the backbone of our journey, and we couldn’t have come this far without you.

The team is focused and ready to represent New Zealand with pride. This campaign is about more than results - it’s about progress, passion, and building a stronger future for handball in our country.

We value your feedback and ideas to help us improve. Whether it’s about communication, logistics, or player support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your input helps us grow and create better opportunities for everyone involved.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s finish strong and make New Zealand proud!

Written by Thomas Schmider, Head of Delegation U18 & U20 Teams

President's Update - October 2024

Kia ora koutou, Aotearoa Handball Whānau

I am penning this month’s update on the way home after another successful weekend of handball in the Garden City. This time we were at the fabulous new courts at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub at Halswell where we wrapped up another year of domestic handball, kiwi-style. 

The past six weeks has been full noise for New Zealand Handball, both on and off the court. In this month’s update we cover a few highlights from that noise, and look forward to what the rest of the year has in store.

Handball League Aotearoa 2024 concludes

What a fitting climax to the inaugural national league! When we planned the HLA at the start of the year we took a punt on the concept, not quite sure how it would pan out, and how the handball community would embrace it. With both the men’s and women’s finals going to extra time and many of the games over the final weekend regional tournament only being separated by one or two goals, we couldn’t have hoped for a closer competition.

Congratulations to the Canterbury Quakes for taking out both divisions – claiming the women’s title from Auckland to reverse the outcome of their pool play encounters, and taking the men’s title in another thrilling final, this time going the distance (and more) with Wellington. It was not just the closeness of the contests that made the finals weekend so rewarding, but the fantastic spirit in which all games were played, with respect for the opposition and match officials to the fore despite the intensity of the contest. Super exciting to see all the emerging talent coming through. And just as exciting to see some of the veterans of the New Zealand game still getting amongst it, as well as a few local legends from New Zealand Handball’s past fronting up to cheer on the action from the sidelines.

Big thanks to all those who pitched in to make the first taste of Handball League Aotearoa go down so well. There are definitely some aspects we will look to improve on for next year, and we will do our best to lock in some dates as early as we can, but the basic blueprint feels like one worth persevering with. Massive shout out to Ted Fitzpatrick for his drive in developing the concept, and all the effort he put in to make it happen.

NZ Handball Club Champs 2024

Of course, the regional finals in Christchurch this month was not the only major tournament New Zealand Handball has hosted in the past six weeks. The first weekend of September saw the annual New Zealand Handball Club Champs boast one of the largest ever gatherings of players for a tournament on New Zealand soil at Wellington’s stunning Ākau Tangi stadium. This year we were delighted to host a veritable swarm of players from across the ditch, with five teams representing three different Australian clubs, along a full representation of Handball Clubs from around the country with a total of 17 teams taking part.

 Once more the competition did not disappoint. Congratulations (again) to the Canterbury Quakes for taking out the Men’s title from Sydney’s UTS in a thrilling final. Congratulations as well to UTS for coming out on top in the women’s final, with Victoria University of Wellington Handball Club claiming bragging rights for top New Zealand women’s Club as the losing finalist.  We hope to welcome everyone back again for next year’s event.

Annual General Meeting

Sandwiched in between the excitement of our two pinnacle tournaments on the court we also had the excitement of the AGM off the court. Thanks to all those who tuned in to contribute to this important piece of annual administration. If you weren’t able to join us but would like to check out what was discussed, draft minutes from the meeting as well as the NZHF Exec’s annual report for 2024 can be found on our website - Annual General Meeting

 Sadly, this year’s AGM saw Rowan Moloughney call time on her tenure on the Exec. As Secretary-General Rowan has made a massive contribution to all we have achieved over the course of her two-year term, and we wish her well for her next life challenge, although suspect she will never be far away from us. We were however, delighted to have Leanne Dawson elected to join us for a two-year term, and she has now taken over the role of Secretary-General. I was also re-elected, and will continue on as President. Frank Stoltenberg was re-appointed by the Life Members as their representative on the Exec, with incumbents Willy Silcock, Ted Fitzpatrick and Julien Pringot completing the Committee. There is much to be done and we don’t have a monopoly on good ideas, so if you think of anything you can do to help grow our wonderful sport please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

Regional Forum

Looking ahead, we are now starting to plan for 2025. To kick off that process, we will be hosting an online forum for Regional Associations and Clubs to get together and share ideas on Sunday 3 November. In addition to plotting out a proposed schedule of events for the year ahead and reviewing the year past, we will be discussing the proposed new player registration system discussed at the AGM. Regional Association and Club reps, look out for a meeting invite coming your way soon.

IHF Trophy

To round out 2024, our Junior and Youth Men’s Teams will be heading over to Tahiti in December for the Oceania qualifiers for this major tournament. Congratulations to all those selected to take part – it is an exciting group, and we wish them all the best for their final preparations. Just as exciting is the depth of talent our selectors had to choose from, although unfortunately that means some quality players missed the cut. The good news for them is that there is no shortage of handball opportunities in their future, and we look forward to sharing the journey with all our emerging talent.

 That’s it for now. With summer just around the corner, the focus for next month’s update will inevitably turn to the sand when I plan to cover what lies in store for our passionate Beach Handballers over the next few months.

All the best

 David Ireland

President, New Zealand Handball Federation

2024 NZ Handball Club Championship Winners

This year’s national club championship was the biggest ever! There were 17 teams and 240 players that congregated in Wellington for the tournament. It was great to see 5 teams from Australia join the New Zealand teams in this celebration of handball.

The success of the tournament is due to the huge effort of Tournament Director Billie Gruschow, her team from Wellington Handball and the referees coordinated by Antoine Desnos, Gaston Fuso and Ezer Handelsman. Special thanks to the tournament photographer Aaron Bell, covering the entire championship and providing fantastic images of the games.

We would like to thank all the teams for making the tournament a success. And we hope to see you again next year.

We would also like to acknowledge the sponsors and supporters of the tournament - Wellington City Council, Goethe Institut Neuseeland, Brentwood Hotel, Trinity Group, Maori Arts Gallery and Ākau Tangi Sports Centre.

Individual Awards

Youth 18 Player of the Tournament

HECTOR PRINGOT - Canterbury Quakes

YUNA TOHUSHIGE - Canterbury Quakes

Junior (u20) Player of the Tournament

OMAR ELKHARBOTLY - Auckland HC

FIN GILLESPIE - Brisbane HC

Best Defensive Player (Men)

LEO GATTI - Otago Sheeps

Best Defensive Player (Women)

ABBY MILLS - University of Technology Sydney

Best Goalkeeper (Men)

JUSTIN COPE - Canterbury Quakes

Best Goalkeeper (Women)

LEONIE CLEMENTS - Auckland HC

Top Goal Scorer (Men)

ANGUS HAMILTON - Vikings HC

Top Goal Scorer (WOmen)

DANIELA HIDALGO - Auckland HC

Player of Tournament (Men)

JUSTIN COPE - Canterbury Quakes

Player of Tournament (Women)

JESSICA FALLAH - University of Technology Sydney

Team Awards

Kotahitanga Award

Otago HC

Women’s Winner

University of Technology Sydney

Men’s Winner

Canterbury Quakes

President's Update - August 2024

Kia ora koutou, Aotearoa Handball whanau!

 All systems go this month as we hit the business end of the NZ Handball calendar.

Club Champs 6-8 September

Not long to go now until one of the largest senior handball tournaments ever held on New Zealand soil. This year we have 17 teams competing - 10 men’s teams and 7 women, with an unprecedented 5 teams joining us from Australia - fantastic to be able to welcome them to Wellington. 

 It is going to be massive, with a major juggle to squeeze in as much handball as possible over the three days for those taking part, without overloading players. It is a huge logistical exercise to pull this off, big thanks to the organising group for all their efforts. For those attending, please don’t be shy in offering to help out, and ensure your team does its bit when on duty, including assisting with the livestreaming and set up and pack down. This is your tournament, and its success relies on everyone playing their part, on and off the court.

 This will be the first tournament operated under our new Inclusion & Respect Policy. For those taking part, please take time to familiarise yourselves with expectations.

 For those unable to make it, all games are expected to be livestreamed on the Handball Live Youtube channel. The draw is available in our Event webpage.

Safe travels to those attending the event from out of town, and thanks to our partners for this event – WCC Sports Event Partnership Fund, The Goethe Institut, Brentwood Hotel and Trinity Group.

Youth Development - Wellington Inter-School Handball Champs

What a fantastic event New Zealand Handball hosted at Wellington’s fabulous Ākau Tangi Sports Centre on 16 August! Feeding off the success of the Auckland Inter School Champs held in June, for the Wellington equivalent we had over 140 budding Handball enthusiasts from 7 different schools making up 14 teams in total. Despite most of the players being new to Handball, just as we experienced in Auckland, the quality of the Handball was right up there, and all involved seemed to really enjoy the experience. Massive buzz.

 Huge thanks to Frank and the rest of our volunteers for making this happen and ensuring everyone had a good time, and thanks to the teachers and parents involved who threw themselves into the spirit of the occasion.

 The challenge for us will be how we ensure we are able to replicate that success next year, when we expect to have a significant jump in numbers in both Auckland and Wellington given the positivity with which these first tournaments have been received. Nice problem to have! Youth Handball Festivals are our future, encouraging to see our community supporting these events. Super exciting.

Calling all U16 female beach handball enthusiasts!

If you are keen to be part of the excitement of our girls campaign for the U17 Beach Handball World Champs in Tunisia in June next year, check out the Expression of Interest.

 The NZ team for the tournament will comprise female beach handball players with a New Zealand passport born on or after 1 January 2008. If you meet that criteria, your country wants YOU! A team selection process will take place over the coming summer.

AGM

And of course, continuing with the excitement theme of Club Champs and youth Handball events, we have the AGM coming up on Sunday 29 September. Formal notice of that has now gone out to all the Clubs. 

 The door is still open to those keen on being nominated for election to the NZHF Executive Committee - if you want to know more about what is involved, please reach out to any of the current Exec. If you have a thirst for making Handball in Aotearoa as good as it can be and feel you can make a difference, we would love to have you on board. 

 Ngā mihi

David Ireland

President, New Zealand Handball Federation

President's Update - July 2024

Tēnā koutou, Aotearoa Handball Whānau

We are now heading towards the business end of the New Zealand Handball calendar, with plenty on offer over the next few months for everyone with a thirst for Handball.  In this month’s update I wanted to take a sneak peak at what we have to look forward to, and confirm a special opportunity for our female youth beach players that has been locked in for mid-next year. But first, let’s recap on a what has gone on since my May update.

Auckland Open

Another great tournament was successfully hosted by Auckland Handball on 8-9 June. Numbers were down a little on past years with travel costs proving an increasing challenge for many, but the competition was just as fierce and the camaraderie off the court just as strong – always a great environment for our community to get together. Congratulations to Auckland Handball for making it happen, and we look forward to next year’s edition.

Regional connect + new Inclusion & Respect Policy

A forum was held with representatives of our Regions at the end of June to exchange news and views from around the nation. Thanks to those who were able to take part. These forums help inform the strategies we need to put in place to continue to develop Handball in New Zealand, and ensure initiatives and events are coordinated. Much of the conversation centred around the logistics for Handball League Aotearoa, and it is pleasing to see the buy-in to that initiative and ongoing support from the Regions. The key message we have heard is the need for certainty in planning for next year’s running of the League, and we will be doing our best to lock in timings for 2025 as early as we are able to.

Another topic of discussion was the new Inclusion & Respect Policy that the NZHF Executive Committee has developed. That Policy is intended to provide all our stakeholders with a touchstone to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to matters of player safety and respect for our match officials, and ensuring everyone sees Handball in New Zealand as a safe space in which they can participate and contribute.

That Policy has now been adopted by the Executive Committee and appears on our website. You can access it here. We encourage all our stakeholders to take the time to go through it and put it into practice. Please let us know if you have any queries or feedback to share.

Youth Handball update

It was exciting to see two intermediate school-age tournaments successfully conducted in Auckland in June. There will be a similar-aged festival taking place in Wellington on 16 August. We are delighted to be able to support the future of Handball in this way, and look forward to assisting with similar initiatives in other centres. As always, if you would like a hand with any Handball development initiative aimed at our younger players, or want to contribute, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Frank at play@handball.org.nz

Moving up the youth age grades, the men’s Under 18 and Under 20 campaign is gathering steam as the boys look to book themselves a spot in next year’s Intercontinental Championships. The first leg of that journey is the Oceania IHF Trophy qualifiers booked in for Tahiti in mid-December, with a busy few months ahead for the squad as they prepare themselves. To find out more, and how you can support the team, contact Thomas and Olly at youth@handball.org.nz.

To round out the excitement for our youth players in this month’s update, we have just received confirmation that our Under 17 female beach handball players have been nominated to join the American Samoan girls in representing Oceania at the Under 17 Beach Handball World Champs in Tunisia in June 2025. This is an amazing opportunity for the rising stars of our female game, and provides them with a real focus for their training over the summer ahead.

Club Champs & Regional Champs

We are getting down to the wire on the registrations deadline for Clubs to participate in Club Champs in Wellington on 6-8 September. We are expecting a bumper turnout this year, with five Australian club teams expected to join in to add a distinct international flavour to this year’s competition. If your Club has yet to do so, please ensure you register here by 31 July to guarantee your place.

Tracking forward another month and we have the Regional Champs taking place in Christchurch  on the weekend of 12-13 October. This year the event will double as the finals weekend for Handball League Aotearoa, providing a fitting climax to the 2024 Indoor Handball calendar. We hope to see good numbers front up both on and off the court to support their Region take home the silverware.

Referee course

We have another referee training course scheduled to take place over the course of August, as part of the lead up to Club Champs. This is an essential refresher for those likely to find themselves on the end of a whistle on a Handball court – but is also highly valuable for all players to provide you with a better understanding of the rules and expectations. Please contact Antoine at referees@handball.org.nz for further details.

Handball at the Olympics

Before our own annual Handball tournaments take place, there is of course the small matter of Olympic Handball dominance to be settled, now underway with preliminary round games already appearing on Sky Sport. There is also a beach handball showcase Olympic satellite event available to be viewed. Check out our Facebook page for further details – we will keep that updated as further information becomes available, and do our best to keep our supporters informed as to what is available to be viewed.

AGM 29 September

To finish this update on a real highlight, we are currently looking at holding this year’s NZHF AGM online on 29 September. As always, there will be spots available on the Executive Committee for individuals who feel they have something to contribute. If that’s you, please liaise with your Club to get yourself nominated. As part of the lead up to that, we are also hoping to find a space in the schedule for Club Champs to hold a rare in-person forum for our community to exchange views. Further details on that will follow once the Club Champs schedule has been finalised.

That’s it for this month. All the best for your Handball endeavours, whatever they may be, and thanks for your ongoing interest in New Zealand Handball.

David Ireland

President, New Zealand Handball Federation

Play Handball - Everyone, Everywhere!

The New Zealand Handball Federation is excited to introduce our new video series, "Play Handball." This series demonstrates how to enjoy the game using everyday equipment and spaces, and simplifies the rules for easy understanding.

Our first video, "Introduction to Handball," is designed to engage Kiwi kids, along with their teachers, parents, and caregivers, encouraging everyone to give handball a try.

Future videos in the series will feature shorter clips focused on enhancing your handball skills. These include training exercises that coaches and players can watch together before practicing on the court. You'll find essential skills covered, such as shooting, defense, goalkeeping, and team play.

We hope these videos inspire more handball activity in schools across New Zealand. We recognize that many children have yet to discover handball, and we believe this series will make this fantastic Olympic sport more accessible for all.

The video series will be under our new YouTube channel - Play Handball NZHF

We would like to thank our talented volunteer presenters, Anaiwan Ojala and Lara Johns, who were assisted by Martin and Chloe Augueux. The camera work is the handiwork of our amazing Jun Tanlayco, and the tasks of directing, graphics, and editing were handled by NZHF's own Youth Development Coordinator, Frank Stoltenberg.

We would also like to acknowledge our clothing partner, Select Sports. Additionally, we are grateful to Mt Cook School in Wellington for hosting us.

President's Update - May 2024

Tēnā koutou, Aotearoa Handball Whānau!

End of May, and the Indoor Handball season is now in full swing. And now less than two months until the Paris Olympics, providing a rare opportunity (hopefully!) for international Handball to appear on mainstream Kiwi sports media. More on that in the lead up to the Games, but for now, let’s focus a little closer to home.

Handball League AotearoA is go!

What a fantastic weekend of high performance handball to kick off Handball League Aotearoa at the start of May!

With the scramble to get the opening round together it would be fair to say we were a tad nervous about how it would pan out – but we couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. Eight high quality games played with real intensity, and all four of our regions represented by full(ish) strength male and female teams with a great turnout of volunteers and supporters. Good to see our Women’s National Training Squad taking the opportunity presented by having everyone in one place to hold a training session.

After the opening round we had Auckland Women and Otago Men leading the standings – but it’s early days with plenty more points up for grabs in the months ahead.

Auckland HC Women’s team

Massive thanks to Canterbury Handball for managing the logistics and to Ted & the HLA organising group for pulling it all together. Thanks also to those who completed the HLA stakeholder survey – we will be digesting the outputs of that over the coming weeks and then let you know what we’ve learned and how that impacts on the way we administer the League.

Next up for HLA we have the intra-island clashes, with Auckland taking on Wellington and Canterbury taking on Otago, and a hard-fought first leg of the Southern Shield having been held in Waimate on 25 May.

Auckland Open & Auckland Youth

Moving away from official High-Performance Handball and with more focus on the social side of Handball, but without any drop in passion for our great game on Court, the Auckland Open is all set for the weekend of 8-9 June. Another opportunity for our community to get together to celebrate all that is good about Handball, with thanks to Auckland Handball for all their efforts in ensuring this event remains an annual highlight on the Handball calendar.

Perhaps even more exciting than the Auckland Open (if that is possible!) is the launch of an Intermediate age inter-school tournament in Auckland next month. We have a Boys’ tournament taking place on 7 June (think of it as a form of warm up event for the Auckland Open) and then a girls’ tournament on 21 June (with a big thank you to Balmoral School for hosting that). We are super excited about this new investment in the future of Handball, and hoping to replicate the experience in other centres around the country. Huge effort by Frank and his volunteer group to make that happen. For more details, reach out to play@handball.org.nz

Club and Player register

Hopefully all our affiliated Clubs will have now seen and responded to the survey sent out earlier this month for Clubs to confirm their registration details with us, as well as provide updated players’ details to ensure they are correctly recorded on our database. A lot of effort has been put into developing a new NZHF registration system that will work for our environment, but that system will only work if all our stakeholders respond and ensure we have a proper record of everyone involved. Thanks in anticipation of your co-operation with this important initiative.

An update will be provided later in the year. For any queries on our database in the meantime, please reach out to Julien at membership@handball.org.nz

Exec update 

Last up for this month, a slight changing of the guard on your Exec. With a brand new Handballer scheduled to enter the world in a couple of months, Rowan has decided to step aside from Secretary-General duties to focus on her next big role. I am delighted to announce that Kylie Carter (KC) has agreed to step into the gap and take on the duties of acting Secretary-General for the NZHF until this year’s AGM. Rowan and KC will be working together to ensure a smooth transition.

Thanks for all you have done for New Zealand Handball as our Secretary-General, Rowan, and we look forward to welcoming you back on Court with your expanded whānau in tow real soon!

Yours in Handball

David Ireland

President, New Zealand Handball Federation

President's Update - April 2024

Tēnā koutou, Aotearoa Handball Whānau!

Hard to believe it is the end of April already – a third of the year gone, but plenty of Handball action still to pack into the remaining two thirds of the year.

Handball League Aotearoa

Perhaps one of the most significant initiatives we have undertaken in recent years, Handball League Aotearoa throws off on 4-5 May (Super Weekend) in Christchurch. Played at two separate full court venues (Celebration and Mainpower Stadiums) and featuring representative teams from all four of our recognised regions, Canterbury Handball has served up a fantastic launching pad for this bold new competition concept. Super exciting to have locked in a high performance competition that involves the entire nation with games spread from May to October!

Thanks to all of our volunteers from around the regions who have bought into the concept and supported the launch going ahead.  We acknowledge the challenges faced and appreciate the commitment of our wonderful Handball community to make it happen. We also appreciate your ongoing commitment to fill in the blanks between the book-end League weekends in Christchurch, with the winners in October able to claim bragging rights as New Zealand’s premier competitive Handball region for 2024 in either the Men’s or Women’s division (or both!).

If you can’t be there in person to witness the historic opening weekend, catch it on NZ Handball Live livestream.

Gathering the cream of New Zealand’s Handball talent together for the weekend to launch the League also provides opportunity for our National Women’s Team to get together for some early season training with their recently appointed coaching and management team https://handball.org.nz/news/2024/4/15/announcing-coaching-and-support-team-for-the-womens-national-team,  and for our senior Men to get together to reflect on what they achieved at this year’s Asian Champs. But the immediate representative focus for us is on the future…   

Junior and Youth Squads

Our coaches and management structure has now been confirmed for the Men’s Youth (Under 18 at the start of 2024) and Junior (Under 20) Teams to represent New Zealand at the Oceania IHF Trophy qualifiers at the end of the year (https://handball.org.nz/news/2024/4/13/announcing-coaches-and-team-delegation-for-mens-youth-and-junior-national-teams) We are now looking to build up those squads – while we hope to see many return from the previous campaign, there are plenty of openings for new faces to join the ranks. If you hold a New Zealand passport, were under 20 at the start of the year, and are interested in being considered but have not yet been in touch with the coaches, please check out the EOI registration details (https://handball.org.nz/news/2024/4/20/eoi-for-youth-and-junior-boys-high-performance-squads) or contact high-preformance@handball.org.nz.

We currently have EOIs out for those keen to be involved in the Women’s Youth and Junior squads, in either a playinghttps://handball.org.nz/news/2024/4/26/eoi-for-youth-and-junior-girls-high-performance-squads or coaching/managementhttps://handball.org.nz/news/2024/4/23/eoi-for-youth-and-junior-womens-coach-and-management-team capacity. We were thrilled with the depth of talent that came through last year for the IHF Trophy qualifiers held in New Caledonia, and are looking to build on that with an eye on 2025.

Queenstown and development

Of course, Handball is not just about High Performance. The traditional annual Social Tournament was once again successfully held in Queenstown 13-14 April, with over 40 players taking part. It is one of the more iconic events on the Handball calendar, much fun and camaraderie and a great opportunity for our Indoor handballers to celebrate all there is to enjoy about Handball in a stunning setting. The Sunday mash up of quick-fire, shortened mixed teams games was a particular highlight this year. Thanks to Queenstown Lakes District Council for its generous support of the event, Britt and the team at the Queenstown Events Centre for all their help, the Locker Room for its fine hospitality for the Saturday night social, and Leo and the rest of the Queenstown Handball community for hosting such an enjoyable event.

There are some great development initiatives happening around the country, from Invercargill to Auckland. In the past month NZHF has fielded requests to support new youth training initiatives in Taranaki, Wairarapa, Rotorua and Auckland, which is super encouraging – as is the depth of talent being grown out of Christchurch and Dunedin, in particular.

We are also currently working on some Introduction to Handball modules and coaching resources that we hope to be able to make available later in the year, as well as getting some competition underway amongst selected clusters of Intermediate Schools.

Beach

Sadly, the 2023-24 Beach campaign has now drawn to a close. Another strong showing on the sand, thanks to all those involved, particularly the new faces to the management team who made that happen. The domestic highlight had to be the North v South Championships held at the end of March, with a great turnout of our passionate Beach Handball community. Congratulations to the North Men and Women for a Strong showing retaining the Silverware for another year. Another highlight was hosting our first international side in the “Dirty Pigeons” at our New Zealand Champs. Thanks to the Australian-based side for coming over the ditch and we hope to extend our hospitality further over Oceania in the future. Having a number of teams go over to the Gold Coast to compete in the Australian Beach Handball Champs 18-21 April, with a couple of national team exhibition games against the Australians, was a great way to wrap up the summer of Beach.

At this stage we are still hopeful of getting teams together to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Under 16 Beach Handball qualifiers, currently planned for Rarotonga at the end of August. There are a few logistical challenges to overcome for that to happen, but fingers crossed that will go ahead. If you want to find out more information on this please see our Expression of Interest here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccS1hYSWNr-g79OLeJ5Bw34K7bMpRAa96gON5qKaDGUx1dTA/viewform)

Auckland Open and Club Champs

Once the Handball League Aotearoa opener is out of the way, domestic attention switches to the Auckland Open, taking place on 8-9 June. It’s not far away now, and we look forward to seeing another great turnout of the New Zealand Handball Community on the North Shore.

 Looking further ahead, Club Champs is all go for 6-8 September in Wellington. There has already been a lot of interest from Australian Clubs wanting to come over and take part, and this year’s NZHF showcase event is shaping up to be our best ever. Club registration details will be coming out soon. Make sure you lock it into your schedule!

We look forward to catching up on a handball court somewhere soon

David Ireland

President, New Zealand Handball Federation