Sport Waikato

07/10/2026

We are saddened by the passing of Becki Ross, but also deeply privileged and proud to have known her and to have shared even a short part of her journey.

Becki lived her way, documenting and sharing her inspirational fight with courage, honesty and remarkable strength. She remained in control of her story right to the end, offering perspective and lessons that will stay with all who knew her. Her legacy of courage, kindness and resilience will live on forever in the lives of the many people she inspired.

Becki spent a short but memorable time with us as a Project Energizer before moving into her passion for teaching, most recently serving as Southwell’s sport coordinator. Her warmth, energy and care touched so many lives.

She reminded us to make the most of our time together … to love our families, smile, be kind and look for the silver linings, whatever they may be. These lessons, and the example she set, will continue to guide and inspire us for years to come.

Our thoughts and aroha are with her children, Maddi and Jackson, her parents, Glenn and Lynette, her brother Andrew, her partner Steve, and all who loved her.

An absolute star 🌟. Thank you, Becki ❤

Matthew and the team at Sport Waikato

07/10/2026

New approved Tū Manawa funded projects! 🥰

Some great projects coming through for this round of Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa funding, delivered in the Waikato region by Sport Waikato.

🖤 Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Tokoroa Campus – Campus Connect: Activate Lending Library
Equipment funded for an equipment lending library will give rangatahi easy access to informal physical activity during campus breaks. Learner-led games and tournaments will provide low-barrier ways to be active while creating opportunities for Toi Ohomai and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa aakonga sharing the campus to connect

🖤 Forest Lake School Te Kura o Roto Ngahere – Every Body Moves: Active Foundations at Forest Lake School
Funded for Perceptual Motor Programme equipment, swimming costs and lunch/break-time equipment. A whole-school approach combining Junior PMP, classroom movement breaks, inclusive lunchtime activation and adapted sensory swimming for Waka Aatea aakonga with high support needs.

🖤 St Patrick's Catholic School Taupō – MAT Time
Funding for whole-school movement resource class kits. Equipment will support the school’s new whole-school daily 10-minute movement period, enabling every class to be active at the same time and broadening the range of activities available.

🖤 Te Whānau Pūtahi – Te Whānau Pūtahi Move
Funding for equipment, personnel, transport, kai and resources. A connected programme providing tamariki with multiple ways to be active through weekly Kids Club sessions, community Play Trailer activations, Learn to Swim sessions and school holiday programmes.

🖤 Whitikahu School – Move to Learn: Whitikahu Active Learning Kits
Funding for three school active-learning equipment kits that will support regular movement across the school day, including active literacy and numeracy, movement breaks, cooperative challenges and games.

🖤 Tauwhare School – A Fresh Approach to Inclusivity
Funding for equipment for modified lunchtime games for a student-led lunchtime activation programme developed in response to student observations that football was dominating available space and not all tamariki were meaningfully participating. Senior students will design, adapt and lead a rotating range of activities, using participant feedback to make them more inclusive and accessible.

🖤 Springdale School – Springdale School Interactive Play & Movement
Funding for literacy and numeracy movement resources, fundamental movement equipment and inclusive physical activity resources. A play and movement initiative using loose-parts, sensory and fundamental movement equipment to expand how tamariki use the school’s existing play spaces. Kaiako will initially model activities before supporting tamariki to create their own games and challenges, including through a tuakana-teina approach.

We're excited to see these projects implemented and follow their journey 🥰

For more information on Tū Manawa funding, including what can and can't be funded, see Applicant Overview here: https://shorturl.at/ANUPD

06/10/2026

We're super proud of the new wellbeing space in Matamata that is opening its doors today!

Created by Starfish Health & Wellbeing Centre, The Reef | Ākau is designed to be a welcoming place where everyone can move, connect and build confidence.

The space has been supported by Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa fund, delivered by Sport Waikato in the Waikato region.

Congratulations Starfish Health & Wellbeing Centre on creating this amazing space for the communities of the Matamata-Piako district.

📽📖 Read/Watch the full story here: https://shorturl.at/7Xf7z

Matamata-Piako District Council

A new wellbeing space in Matamata is opening its doors today, with a vision that goes far beyond physical activity.

04/10/2026

West Hamilton United FC's Girls in Football holiday programme is helping girls to take that first step into football ⚽️

Supported by Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding (delivered in the Waikato region by Sport Waikato), the programme has been able to keep costs low for participants.

“It was kind of scary with a lot of, like, new people, but then after you got to know everybody, it was, like, really fun," said first timer Beryl.

Coach education for their women's team members was instrumental in leading, designing and delivering the programme.

👇 Read the full story:

For some young girls, the biggest step into football isn’t learning how to kick or pass a ball. It’s simply having the confidence to turn up.

01/10/2026

📢 WE'RE HIRING: Professional Learning Partner - Primary

Sport Waikato’s’ mahi is guided by our North Star – Shaping Better Lives Through Movement. 🥰

This is an exciting opportunity to step beyond the classroom and use your knowledge, experience, and passion to influence change across schools and kura.

You will work alongside primary and intermediate schools to strengthen the systems, environments and teaching practices that support quality physical activity, hauora, and the Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

Don't wait - apply now! 😎 https://shorturl.at/v35ox

(applications close 5pm Sunday 11th October 2026

01/10/2026

At Deanwell School, bikes are doing much more than getting tamariki moving. They’re building confidence, encouraging independent play and becoming part of everyday learning – from science and literacy to road safety and problem-solving.

Principal Pam Quirke says:

“We wanted our children to be able to play independently, be active and engage in meaningful learning. The bikes became the vehicle that made all of that possible.”

With support from Sport Waikato and Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding (delivered by Sport Waikato in the Waikato region), the impact is now reaching beyond the school gates.

👉 Read how bikes are transforming learning at Deanwell School.

When staff listened to students, they discovered many children either couldn't ride a bike or didn't have access to one at home. At the same time, teachers were noticing another challenge - students thrived during structured activities but struggled with independent play. 

30/09/2026

New approved Tū Manawa funded projects!

We've got some exciting new projects for this round of Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa funding, delivered in the Waikato region by Sport Waikato.

🖤 Te Awamutu Boxing Academy – School Groups
Equipment, coaching and transport costs for 30 weeks of structured, non-contact boxing-inspired physical activity programme with a focus on participation, confidence, fitness, resilience and positive experiences.

🖤 Kuaotunu Beach Getaways t/a Surf Coromandel – After School Grom Surf Sessions
Coaching and instructor costs, plus 10 wetsuits for an established after-school surf programme providing beginner to advanced-beginner sessions for local tamariki and rangatahi in Matarangi and Whitianga - with a focus on water safety, wave reading, board handling, surfing skills, confidence and social connection.

🖤 Kaipaki School - Kaipaki Play in Action
Equipment for a year-long active-play programme using a broad equipment pool to provide a wide range of sport, play and recreation options, with a strong focus on choice, different challenge levels, cooperative play and self-directed participation.

🖤 Pokuru School on behalf of RTLB Cluster 17 – Small Moves, Big Impact
20 x Neuro Move Packs for NeuroMove workshops will support educators to use movement-based activities with tamariki in classrooms and learning-support settings, with a focus on regulation, confidence, coordination, engagement and positive movement experiences.

We're excited to see these projects implemented and follow their journey 🥰

For more information on Tū Manawa funding, including what can and can't be funded, see Applicant Overview here: https://shorturl.at/ANUPD

23/09/2026

What a day! ❤️💛🖤

Last Friday, our team came together at The Peak to support Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust’s Kaumātua Games. We hosted a game, were paired with teams from around the motu and shared plenty of laughs along the way.

A special thank you to the students from Rototuna Junior and Senior High Schools, who created games and provided the food.

Days like this show what movement can bring to a community: people of all ages coming together, making connections and creating memories.

Thank you, Rauawaawa, for inviting us to be part of such a wonderful day!

Mā te tuakana te teina e tōtika, Mā te teina te tuakana e tōtika. | From the older sibling the younger one learns the right way to do things, and from the younger sibling the older one learns to be tolerant.