What an amazing day we had supporting the recent Waikato BLENNZ ECC (Expanded Core Curriculum) Day – a day filled with active play, laughter, and meaningful connection. These events bring together students who are blind, deafblind or have low vision from across the Waikato region, offering not just opportunities for movement, but also the chance to build friendships and confidence through shared experiences.
We were fortunate to be hosted by Waikato Badminton, who introduced students to adaptive badminton, creating a fun and inclusive environment for everyone to give the sport a go. Blind Sport NZ brought along the Blind Sport Kit, giving students the chance to explore a wide range of activities adapted for different vision levels. A highlight for many was the opportunity to meet and learn from Lissie Cleave, currently ranked World #8 in Blind Tennis. Her passion and skill inspired students as she led them through tennis drills and games.
Liv Fountain, dedicated Halberg Youth Council member, helped guide students through crafting their own Poi Toa. These were later used to explore movement, rhythm, and even attack/defence techniques – combining creativity with coordination in a fun and expressive way.
Rounding out the day, Katie Van Dyk alongside the team from Blind Low Vision NZ, introduced students to adaptive Boccia and Goalball – both exciting, inclusive sports that sparked laughter, teamwork, and a lot of enthusiasm. It truly was a day full of Moments of Joy – not just for the students, but also for the incredible group of sports deliverers, carers, BLENNZ staff and parents who made it all possible.
