NZ Sign Language Week

Every May, Deaf Aotearoa takes centre stage to organise New Zealand Sign Language Week, a vibrant celebration of one of the country’s official languages, alongside te reo Māori. 

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week is not just a celebration; it’s a moment for the Deaf community to stand tall, embracing their identity and heritage. It’s a time to showcase the richness of NZSL and the diverse culture it represents. NZSL Week serves as a platform to dismantle barriers, dispel misconceptions, and foster greater inclusion. 

Blue Waters Community Trust bolsters bowls with over $800k in grant

In a significant boost to Auckland’s bowling community, the Blue Waters Community Trust has allocated more than $800,000 in grants during the 2023-2024 season. This generous funding underscores the Trust’s commitment to nurturing the sport of lawn bowls across the Bowls Auckland region.

The past financial year we witnessed numerous clubs benefiting from the Trust’s support, facilitating vital upgrades and enhancements. Below is a glimpse into some of the projects funded.

Dean Bartlett, CEO of Bowls Auckland, expressed profound gratitude towards the Trust, acknowledging their pivotal role in advancing the region’s bowling community. Bartlett emphasised that such progress wouldn’t have been possible without the Trust’s support.

Galloway doubles down while Hickey
shines with gold!

Auckland’s lawn bowls came alive over the weekend (4-5 May) with a second attempt at the Bowls Auckland Men’s Singles and Women’s Triples Championships. Played under ideal conditions. the events held across eight host clubs were notable for their intense competition, and a clever format tweak allowed all play to wrap up neatly in one action-packed weekend!

The Men’s Singles kicked off with a whopping 112 players vying for the top spot. Competition was fierce, narrowing the field down to 16 after four intense rounds of play. A highlight was the nail-biting shoot-outs in two of the 28 sections, with Stephen Campbell (Pt Chevalier) and Logan Clark (Royal Oak) securing their spots in dramatic single-end deciders.

Mercedes Cup: Where 1-5s aim for glory in the North!

-- By Gerard Hulst

In a galaxy not so far away, the annual Mercedes Trophy Interclub Challenge converged on the greens of Kamo Bowling Club on May the fourth, better known as Star Wars Day! Initiated by Robin Ellery back in 2004, this championship has become a celebrated fixture on the bowls calendar, thanks to the support of Mercedes Benz.

Winner (top) Kensington, Runner-up (middle) Helensville, Carlton Cornwall & supporters (bottom)

Aktive recently hosted a two-day Auckland Regional Coach Developer Training course. Held at the state-of-the-art AUT Millennium, the course was a dynamic blend of learning, networking, and personal growth.

It was two days packed with workshops, hands-on activities, and insightful discussions—all aimed at honing coaching skills and fostering a community of like-minded individuals passionate about coach development.

Les Eagleton and Brendon Walton from Bowls Auckland pictured with Chris Stone from Oratia BC.

Kittyhawks' President Day

It's Sunday 5 May, and it's Kittyhawks’ Presidents Day at Auckland Bowling Club.

It's a glorious day. where Auckland and Northland Kittyhawks come together to play for the Paul Kortegast Trophy. With much fun and fanfare, the trophy was won by Mike Rapson and Mike Hadrup.

Club Leaders meeting

On Tuesday, 7 May Bowls Auckland's Club Leadership programme hosted an enthusiastic gathering of 23 attendees representing 19 clubs! The meeting delved into crucial topics, including Health and Safety protocols, and ensuring the well-being of members and visitors.

One of the highlights was an interactive workshop on Twilight Bowls, where participants explored innovative strategies to spice up their evening games. The workshop sparked creativity and gave attendees fresh ideas to invigorate their club activities.

Attendees left with newfound insights to elevate their club's experience. Whether implementing safer practices or injecting new excitement into their Twilight Bowls events, everyone departed with tangible takeaways to enhance their clubs' operations.

Colleen Pert (Blockhouse Bay), Xenia Marcroft (Pt Chevalier), Shona Hewitt (Epsom)

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