17/06/2026
🎉Life Membership Announcement🎉
We are EXCITED to announce Boccia New Zealand's newest Life Members.
Congratulations to Greig Jackson and Gabrielle Heaslip who were awarded Life Membership during the 2026 AGM.
The Boccia New Zealand Life Membership Award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sport of boccia that has enhanced the sport at a local level, regionally, nationally and / or internationally.
Summary of Service:
Greig Jackson
• 25-year national boccia career, representing Manawatu and Canterbury
•15+ National Championships gold medals across Individual and Pairs (BC3)
• New Zealand Paralympian #146
• 2 x Paralympic Games
-Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 (4th in BC3 Pairs in Athens)
• 3 x World Championships
-Póvoa De Varzim 2002, Rio de Janeiro 2006, Beijing 2014
• 2 x World Cups
-Christchurch 2003, Vancouver 2007 (4th in BC3 individuals)
• Boccia New Zealand Representative #9
• Won NZ’s first ever individual medal (Bronze) at a World Boccia event (2018)
• Most capped NZ boccia player (104*) - competed in 15 international events.
Gabrielle Heaslip
• Large contribution to the South Auckland Boccia Association (SABA) in the early 2000s
• Former committee member and President of the Boccia Association of New Zealand
• Call room attendant at numerous New Zealand boccia events in the early 2000s
• Support staff for the New Zealand boccia team;
-2x Asia Oceania Regional Championships (2005 & 2009)
-1 x Boccia World Championships (2006)
-1x Boccia World Cup (2007)
• Sports assistants to Boccia New Zealand and Paralympic representatives, Paul Munckhof (BC1) and Mandy Slade (BC3)
