WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!
What an incredible atmosphere in Te Aroha on Thursday, 9 October, as schools from in and around the region came together for the Te Aroha All Abilities Sports Festival Day. Thanks to generous sponsorship from Hazardous Solutions Group, we were able to host the event at the Silver Fern Farms Event Centre, keeping our tamariki and rangatahi dry and safe indoors.
Bowls NZ brought their Rookie Roller sets and ramps, making the game accessible for students who benefit from adapted equipment. Waikato Badminton showcased a wide range of modified gear, letting everyone smash balloons, balls, and shuttles with joy.
Waikato Golf filled a whole room with Snag Golf equipment – and we think the biggest swing of the day came from one of our powerchair users! WaiBOP Football kept the energy high with their engaging skills and drills. We even spotted some creative crossover with Basketball – true adaptation in action!
Parafed Waikato provided sports wheelchairs, and Katie (Halberg intern and Parafed Waikato team member) was a standout, demonstrating their use and often seen towing a train of four wheelchairs behind her! It’s always a pleasure to collaborate with passionate organisations to bring these community events to life. A special shout-out to Mel from BLENNZ Waikato, who was instrumental in making this event happen in Te Aroha.
We’re excited to keep building connections in this region and beyond. If this sounds like something your community would love, reach out to your Regional Halberg Advisor – we’d love to hear from you!
