Handball Youth Development Makes It's Debut in Gisbourne!

On Monday 27 July 2020, New Zealand Player/Coach and Executive member La Winitana travelled to Lytton High School in Gisbourne. La treated the students to an Introduction session to Handball covering basic skills and rules of the game.

"The idea was to give these kids an opportunity to see what Handball is and just to get them running around" – La Winitana.

Both classes enjoyed and learned a lot from the session and showcased some great raw talent.

A big thank you to the HOD of Physical Education Mia Crane for organising the day and to both the Year 10 and Year 12 classes that participated. Finally, a big thank you to La for giving up her time to promote our amazing sport!

NZHF.

Update On COVID-19 Relating To New Zealand Handball.

Hello everyone

In the outbreak of COVID-19 I am sure most of you are aware of the implications this has on mass gatherings, travel and sport within New Zealand and beyond. We at NZHF and those associated with Handball in NZ are working hard to make decisions on whether many key international and national Handball events will go ahead and what the near future holds. We ask for your patience at this time and assure you that we will keep you informed on any progress or new information we get related to this issue.

Until that happens, we ask you to stay safe, keep your hygiene up and stay positive! Let’s continue grow Handball within this fine country.

Thank you all.

NZHF.

Exhibition Match NZ Men's vs Barbarians, ASB Centre 7th December,

The New Zealand Handball Federation is proud to present our Senior Men’s National Team who will be facing off in an exhibition match against the wide selection of foreign and NZ players making up the Barbarians handball team.

This fundraising event will help to bring the handball community closer together while also allowing a chance to promote the NZ Handball team going off to Asian champs next year.

Come to meet and support these two mighty teams in a friendly but fierce competition at the ASB centre on the 7th December 2019 from 4.30-7 pm.

Other events for the whole family will also be presented.

Full schedule to be unveiled soon.

Entry is free with koha donation.

NZ MEN’S TEAM ANNOUNCED - 2020 Asian Men’s Championship

Congratulations to the following players selected to represent New Zealand in the Asian Men’s Championship, Qualification for Men’s World Championship 2021, to be held in Kuwait from 16-27 January 2020. We wish them all the best for their travels and training in the upcoming months.

NZ MENS TEAM

• Scott James Balmforth, Wellington

• Timothy William Baird Banks, Wellington

• James Richard Cochrane, Wellington

• Justin Michael Cope, Christchurch

• Matt Wiremu Cropp, Melbourne

• Aleksa Djorovic, Wellington

• Gaston Alberto Fuso, Auckland

• Harry Thomas Ireland, Wellington

• Luke Samuel Ireland, Wellington

• Paul Timothy Ireland, Wellington

• William Allan Marama Makea, Wellington

• Predrag Mijatovic, Auckland

• Luke Jonathan Naylor, Wellington

• Jason Christopher Roche, Wellington

• Cameron John Ross, Wellington

• Thomas Renata Roxburgh, Wellington

OFFICIALS

• Head Coach: Frederic Han

• Assistant Coach: Antoine Desnos

• Manager: David Ireland

• Head of Delegation: Gaston Fuso

• Media Officer: Jun Tanlayco

• Team Liaison Officer: Qassim Helal

• Physio: Stephanie Tucker

NZHF U19 TOURNAMENT RESULTS AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Women's results
1st Wellington Black
2nd Wellington Yellow
3rd East Coast Stars
4th Otago Handlanders

Final scores:
1ST/2ND: Wellington Black 22 Wellington Yellow 12
3RD/4TH: East Coast Stars 19 Otago Handlanders 14

Men's results
1st Wellington Black
2nd The Canterbury Chump Squad
3rd Wellington Yellow
4th Otago Taiaroa

Final scores:
1ST/2ND: Wellington Black 35 The Canterbury Chump Squad 21
3RD/4TH: Wellington Yellow 19 Otago Taiaroa 14

NZHF U19 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Women's MVP - Ailish Akavi, Wellington Black
Men's MVP - Paul Ireland, Wellington Black
Women's Top Goalscorer - Brenna Akavi, Wellington Black
Men's Top Goalscorer - Angus Hamilton, The Canterbury Chump Squad
Men's Goalkeeper - Alex Brown, The Canterbury Chump Squad
Women's Goalkeeper - Chrissy Mulitalo, East Coast Stars
Women's Sportsmanship - Annalise Wilson, Otago Handlanders
Men's Sportsmanship - Daniel Lee, Otago Taiaroa

NZHF U19 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT - ALL STARS TEAMS
Congratulations to all our future stars!!

Women's All Stars
GK Chrissy Mulitalo; Michelle Fleischer
P Ele Paasi; Sophie Strathern
LW Brenna Akavi; Aneko Winitana
LB Tahndae Wyatt; Ailish Akavi
C Aneko Winitana; Emily Kerr-Bell
RB Ida Petersen; Paris Tuimaseve-Fox
RW Aneko Winitana; Lushan Wyatt

Men's All Stars
GK Alex Brown; Laurin Shoppe
P Wayo White; William Smith
LW Riley Flanagen; Pato Felipe
LB Paul Ireland; Lachlan Colquhon
C Angus Hamilton; Lucas Graham O'Connor
RB Max Brookes; Will O'Connor
RW Miguel Aizpuru; Jack Shields

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT - Inaugural NZHF U19 Tournament showcases great skills

NZHF’s first combined junior/youth tournament was held last weekend with regional teams from throughout New Zealand and a women’s team from Australia competing. There were some amazing handball skills on display which means the future is looking very promising for NZ Handball! A highlight of the tournament was the significant growth in handball in the South Island with teams from Canterbury and Otago regions showing fantastic development. However, it was the Wellington Region that came out on top, with both their top teams winning the men’s and women’s championships.

This tournament is so important for the development of Handball in New Zealand and it was great to see the investment NZHF has been making in youth development paying off and New Zealand finally having enough teams to hold a tournament for this age group. NZ Head of Coaching and Referees, Dr Eoin Murray, also found time to run mentoring sessions for referees at the tournament, despite coaching two teams.

Massive thanks to all the participants, coaches, managers, referees, volunteers, families and supporters for making our inaugural U19 tournament a success. It was great to have participation from the Australian young women - thanks for coming over!

A special thanks goes to our tournament director - Frank Stoltenberg - amazing effort, not only with the tournament organisation but also with the social functions that followed.

Thanks too go out to all our NZHF volunteers, and representatives of our Senior Men’s and Women’s teams who were present to support the young players. It was great to see our handball community respond to the call for help and see all working together to support development of NZ Handball.

IHF Features results of NZHF National Club Tournament

IHF media centre featured an article on the final day of competition at the National Clubs tournament with results of the competition detailed. Click here for the full article.

The event was held at the ASB Sports Centre, Wellington 13-15 September.

NZHF thanks the Wellington City Council for its support of this event through a generous grant.

NZHF ALL STAR TOURNAMENT TEAMS - NATIONAL CLUB TOURNAMENT

Congratulations to the following players named in the All Star tournament teams after the NZHF National Club tournament held in Wellington last weekend.

2019 Women’s All Star Team:

GKs: Abbey L'Estrange and Valini Vaka

Pivots: Tiffany Banks and Rowan Moloughney

Left Wings: Langi Winitana and Noemie Petit

Left Backs: Bella Anastasiou and Ailish Akavi

Centres: Bella Anastasiou and Maddy Hazleton

Right Backs: Inga Zuzeviciute and Jaclyn Parker

Right Wings: Alex Mair and Melissa Vachod

2019 Men’s All Star Team:

GKs: Yoshihito Watanabe and Justin Cope

Pivots: Jack Gallagher and Nicholas Shields

Left Wings: Alex Bickers and Jono Rayner

Left Backs: Paul Ireland and Magnus Humpfer

Centres: James Cochrane and Thomas Schmider

Right Backs: Luke Ireland and Nicholas Potter

Right Wings: Miguel Aizpuru and Phil Ellis

NZHF NATIONAL CLUB TOURNAMENT A GREAT SUCCESS

Last weekend saw nine men’s teams and eight women’s team compete at the annual National Club tournament, held in Wellington.

All games were closely fought and none more so than the men’s final which went into overtime after both teams were tied at full time. We congratulate the winners and players with individual success at the tournament. Photos and details follow below.

We also thank the Wellington City Council for its generous grant towards hire of the court facilities. Also a huge thank you goes to Jun Tanlayco for his amazing support of NZ Handball through his photographic efforts!

Results:

Women’s final: Austago (a composite team from Otago University Handball Club and Australian Handball players) took out the final in a closely fought game against the Auckland Women’s team. Final score 27:23.

Men’s final: Two top Wellington clubs met in the final. Vikings HC won in a nail biter by one goal in extra time over last year’s champions, Northern Aguilas HC. Final score 28:27.

Individal awards:

• MVP Women: Bella Anastasiou, Hunters HC

• MVP Men: Paul Ireland, Vikings HC

• Top Goal Scorer Women: Jaclyn Parker, Canterbury Quakes HC

• Top Goal Scorer Men: Paul Ireland, Foxton Fruit Flies HC

• Top Goalkeeper Women: Abbey L’Estrange, VUW/Spartanz HC

• Top Goalkeeper Men: Yoshihito Watanabe, Northern Aguilas

• Sportsmanship Award for women: Cook Islands Women’s team

• Sportsmanship Award for men: James Cochrane, Northern Aguilas

IHF Features preview of our NZHF National Clubs Tournament

Read the article from IHF media centre previewing our NZHF Club Tournament to be held in Wellington on 13-15 September.