A BRIGHT STAR HAS FALLEN


It is with great sorrow we advise the NZ Handball community of the passing of Shaza Smit, a former NZ Senior Women's team member. Shaza passed away in Australia on 8 January after a brave fight against cancer. All of us at NZ Handball send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Smit family. Her short 24 years touched the world in such an amazing and positive way. Her wonderful positivity and wicked sense of humour will ensure her star continues to shine in our memories.

2016 NZ Senior Women’s team competing in the Oceania Qualifiers, October 2016, Sydney. Shaza is 2nd from the right in the back row.

2016 NZ Senior Women’s team competing in the Oceania Qualifiers, October 2016, Sydney. Shaza is 2nd from the right in the back row.

ASIAN CHAMPS - NZ WOMEN v JAPAN

Our NZ Women’s team faced a daunting task coming up against host nation Japan in the first game of the tournament. While facing a highly experienced and tough opposition, our Kiwi women fought to the end, and enjoyed every moment of playing against these wonderful handballers. Final score 5:41 (2:20). Lots of experience and learning taken from this match.

NZ v Japan 30 Nov 2018.jpg

NZHF SEEKS HEAD COACH FOR MEN’S NATIONAL SQUAD

This position leads the development and direction for men’s handball in New Zealand. The voluntary position is available immediately and will last through to the end of the 19th Asian Men’s Championships (timing and date tbc, but expected in early 2020).
Key Responsibilities:
• To lead the development of a high performance training and competitions programme that aims to achieve qualification for the next Asian Men’s Championships. 
• To search for, select, develop and maximise the potential of the New Zealand Handball players under NZ Handball’s National Training Squad programme.
• To work with assistant coaches, and other age group coaches to assist the development and direction of their squads, and build the coaching skills of New Zealand’s young coaches.
• To establish a multi-dimensional support programme incorporating selected experts in the delivery of sports science, nutrition and medical support, ensuring the needs of players and coaches are met.

Applicants should apply in writing, providing a CV and details of their coaching experience and ideas for development to secretary@handball.org.nz by Thursday 1st November 2018.

2018 CLUB CHAMPS FOUND

Congratulations to our NZ 2018 National Club Champions. Winners were found after a successful tournament at Wellington at the weekend.

Women's champions are Canterbury, and defending their 2017 title for the men's competition was Northern Aguilas.

Well done to all teams - competition was tight in all games and it was especially pleasing seeing the development of handball across all regions.

Canterbury - 2018 Champions

Canterbury - 2018 Champions

Northern Aguilas - 2018 Champions

Northern Aguilas - 2018 Champions

2018 NZ SENIOR WOMEN'S TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR ASIA CHAMPS

NZHF is delighted to advise that the members of the 2018 NZ Women’s team to represent NZ at the 2018 Asian Women’s Championships to be held in Kumamoto, Japan in December is now on the NZHF website.  Check this out on our new High Performance page https://handball.org.nz/national-women/

Congratulations to all players and officials.  We wish you every success with your preparation and the tournament in Japan.

SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (part time/Auckland based)

The New Zealand Handball Federation is looking to appoint a National Youth Development Manager based in Auckland, initially on a part time basis.

Purpose of the role: To facilitate the establishment and growth of handball in secondary schools throughout New Zealand. This role will work closely with the current regions where Handball is played in New Zealand and to begin with, will focus on growing the sport in Auckland. The role will directly contribute to achieving NZHF’s overall strategic goals of growing to 5000 players in 5 years.

Ideal Candidate: We are seeking someone with enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, Handball. The successful candidate will have experience in developing and managing sports programmes, with particular emphasis on junior sports development. Preferred, but not essential are a Police clearance to enable work with youth in schools and a current First Aid certificate.

The key outputs of the role are as follows:

  • Handball development plans for secondary schools, involving recruitment of schools, introducing and socialising Handball into their range of sports offered;
  • Development & management of Secondary Schools Handball competitions;
  • Development of coaching programmes, to build player competence and develop coaches within schools;
  • Relationship building and stakeholder management;
  • Facilitate transition of youth players to club play;
  • Resourcing of the school programmes;
  • Gathering membership statistics and administering the NZHF Membership Database.

Location and hours of work: This is a part time position in Auckland. Hours of work and base of operations to be negotiated with the successful applicant. We anticipate the role will initially run for 6 months from October 2018 until the end of the first school term of 2019, but if funding can be found, the role will be extended.

A full job description is available on request.  To register your interest please send your CV and details of your suitability for the role to secretary@handball.org.nz no later than 1 September 2018.