NEWS

HANDS UP TO PLAY HANDBALL

By JOSH REICH - The Nelson Mail --- Last updated 12:30 01/05/2010

COLIN SMITH / Nelson Mail
EXPERT ADVICE: New Zealand Handball development officer Langi Winitana demonstrates a jump shot for Waimea Intermediate School pupils at Saxton Stadium yesterday.

Imagine Dan Carter running weekly coaching sessions, before returning to the New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters to do the paperwork.

It wouldn't happen.

But for Langi Winitana, it's all part of the job of trying to build the profile of a minority sport in New Zealand.
From Monday to Thursday, she is a teacher at Petone Central School in Wellington.

Come Friday, she switches to her role as handball development officer, which sees her travelling to all parts of the country to introduce the sport to school pupils.

Yesterday she was in Nelson with Sport Tasman, teaching groups of children at Saxton Stadium in the hope of gaining enough interest to see a league begin.

She has had success elsewhere, with competitions beginning in Whangarei, Auckland, Hawke's Bay and Wellington in the past 11 months, and believes there is enough talent for the sport to become established in Nelson.

"I saw some massive kids, I was stoked," she said.

"A lot of the girls really surprised me.

"It's harder to get female players here in New Zealand than it is to get males, because males will have a go at everything.

"To see a whole lot of girls out there that are feisty and really hungry for it is really refreshing."

She has played handball since the age of 13 and since finishing school has spent three years in South Korea and one year in Japan playing professionally.

She has played more than 30 matches for the New Zealand team and scored more than 50 goals.

Having experienced the opportunities that handball has presented her, she is keen to spread the sport.
"It's just a sport that I think New Zealanders and Kiwi kids can pick up just like that."

Winitana would be back in Nelson in a couple of months to run another course and see how the development of a local competition was progressing.

Handball New Zealand top of the south representative Jeff Spencer said he hoped a competition for youngsters would be up and running in a month or so.

Anyone keen to find out more can contact Jeff on 035479510.

TASMAN ATOMS EXPLODE IN 2010

Saturday 1st May 2010.

On Friday 30th April 2010, over 180 school children and parents attended and participated in ‘Tasman Atom’s’ Handball Workshops and games, held at the newly built Saxton Stadium.  The workshops were the result of weeks of planning, organisation, hard work and effort of Mr. Jeff Spencer (HNZ Tasman Regional Coordinator/Club President).  HNZ Development Officer Miss Terangi Winitana assisted in conducting the workshops.

The day was a huge success encompassing representatives of 3 local colleges and 5 Intermediate schools. Mr. Spencer would like to thank local groups and company’s who supported this day, such as: Nelson Mail, Sport Tasman, Sport Marlborough, Saxton Stadium Staff, teachers and parents for their voluntary effort.

We look forward to following up with this successful day, with future workshops and tournaments in the coming months.

LEZALEA TE IRINGA MAORI SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR 2010 [Update - Feb 18th]

Tai Tokerau Maori Senior sportswomen of the Year Award for Handball

Lezalea Te Iringa has successfully capped off a stunning handball year by winning the Maori senior sports-womens award at the recently held Tai Tokerau Maori Sports Awards held in Kaikohe.

After leading her Northland provincial womens handball team at the national competition and being selected for the New Zealand Tui Blacks in 2009. Leah also assisted the Northland mens provincial handball team whilst in Tahiti at the Oceania Club Champions Tournament in 2009. !!! Congratulations Lezalea !!!

TASMAN ATOMS COMMENCE 2010 IN THEIR STATE OF THE ART TRAINING FACILITY [Update - Feb 18th]

The Tasman Atoms have commenced training at their new facilities located in Nelson.

HNZ RELEASE REGIONAL FRANCHISE LOGOS [Update - Jan 25th]

After wide consultation with handball playing regions in New Zealand, a panel appointed by Handball New Zealand have recommeded the inclusion of an annual regional playing format and released regional brands for the future.

DATES SET FOR NZ HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 [Update - Jan 25th]

Auckland have won the bid over Wellington and Northland to host the Senior mens and womens championships which will be held at the AUT stadium in the North Habour in May 2010.

DATES SET FOR NZ AGE GRADE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010 [Update - Jan 25th]

Hawkes Bay Handball have obtained the hosting rights for the U18 mens and womens 2010 NZ Youth Championships to be held in August

HNZ INTERNATIONAL PLAYING ITENIARY [Update - Jan 25th]

HNZ have confirmed their international playing inteniary for 2010 with the national mens team travelling to the Cook Islands to play the in the Pacific Nations Cup whilst the U18 mens team will play in Korea.

As for the womens iteniary, New Zealands top womens club team will play in the Oceania Club Championships Tiri Cup to be held in Tahiti which will also see the U18 womens team also travelling to Tahiti to play in the Pacific Nations Taura Cup event for under 18 women.

HUTT VALLEY REGIONAL HANDBALL UPDATE [Update - Jan 11th]

THE HUTT SUMMER SCENE PROGRAMME IS BACK and there’s something for everyone! This year Handball has been added to the programme! Handball is a Fun and Exciting New Sport that anyone can learn.

If your between the ages of 8-14years old and you want to learn more about Handball, Come and try your hand at Handball, Hosted by some of New Zealand’s representatives.

For more information visit www.summerscene.co.nz 

With the support of Leisure active and the Hutt City Council.

INDEPENDANT PANEL REPORTS BACK TO HNZ BOARD [Update - Jan 11th]

After 6 months of tireless work and handball seminars spanning the country, an independantly appointed planning team established to plan a pathway forward for the sports body have compiled their findings and will present their findings to the HNZ Executive with recommendations to adopt a 3-year strategy and marketing plan to foster the growth of handball in New Zealand. The HNZ working team have been in close contact with schools and keen handball communities as part of their moving forward pathway development plan.

Key componants to the plan include:

1. Fostering the development of handball at the "GRASS ROOTS LEVEL".

2. Marketing and promoting handball in the regions.

3. Developing pathways for players - coaches and officials.

As part of the future marketing description, the panel is expected to unveil to the HNZ Executive - a regional handball brand expressed by the members to full a competition void and consolidate a top tier regional programme for seniors and age grade handballers.

NORTHLAND ROCKZ AT THE 2009 TIRIMASTERS TAHITI [Update - Jan 11th]

The 2009 HNZ National Mens Club Champions Northland Rockz have returned from competition at the '2009 Tiri Masters Handball Tournament' for Men held in Papeete, Tahiti from the 12th – 17th December with the team finishing in 8th place. Given the tough playing schedule playing 6 games in five days plus 3 buildup games included, the team was estatic with the standard and level of competition whilst in Tahiti. It is very clear from the teams return that the Northland Rockz mens team is going to be a handful for all future teams they play against and the experience will have taken their skill level to new heights.

Outstanding for the team was Robin Claridge who finished as New Zealand's top goal scorer and was a class above all of the players in both New Zealand teams whilst at the tournament. Claridge finished 15th on the TOP SCORERS list and was unlucky to finish higher in the rankings. Given the Rockz exposure to high-level international competition, the team will clearly be a dangerous team to play against in the future and deserve the right to be called the TOP RANKED HANDBALL CLUB TEAM IN NEW ZEALAND.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL HANDBALLERS [Update - Jan 11th]

Happy New Year to all handballers in New Zealand. Whilst we now move into 2010, Handball New Zealand can reflect on another successful year with many achievements for the year. To summarise 2009: -

• HNZ were once again able to send their senior womens national team to participate and compete at World Championship qualification matches

• Hold provincial top-flite competitions for their top male, female and age grade players around the country

• Continue to deliver and develop handball programs in the schools

• Experience an increase in registered playing members and playing regions in New Zealand

• Hold level 1 & 2 coaching - officiating and referee clinics nationally

• Invest in the strategic development of HNZ by developing plans and marketing strategies for the future

• Moving to a purpose built sports facility as headquarters for Handball New Zealand in the Pelorus Trust Sports House

• Hold 12 x handball workshops throughout New Zealand

• Sending their top club teams to compete at international events such as the Pacifc Cup 2009 for the nations top playing clubs held this year in Tahiti and attended by HNZ top senior teams.

• Hold onto the support of key business partners and sponsors

• Improve their relationships with their Pacific Island cousins Tahiti - Cook Islands - Samoa & Tonga

Whilst 2009 was a year of managing HNZ's limited resources given the global financial crisis, the Executive Board managed to find the resources to support the development of the regions cries for playing - coaching and referee development programmes with a particular focus on youth initiatives. The handball regions can look forward to the same level of support for 2010 by the Executive Board.

TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE

For more information or to forward articles to Handball New Zealand update, send to:

Langi Winitana

Email: Langi.Winitana@handballnewzealand.com

Phone: 04 5600393

Mobile: 021-1901166  

.