Sport Bay of Plenty

24/06/2026

🌟 Celebrating Excellence 🌟
Huge congrats to Kahlia Cullwick 👏 Recipient of the Acorn Foundation - encouraging giving for the Western BOP Christine Tustain Sports Award 2026 🙌

This annual award supports young Western Bay of Plenty athletes excelling in their chosen sport, to assist with preparation for international competition.

This year, Kahlia is competing in two Canoe Slalom World Cups in Europe, the U23 World Championships in Poland, and the World Championships in Oklahoma. With her sights set on LA 2028, she is continuing to push her performance to the next level 🛶

Balancing part-time work, Mechanical Engineering study, and full-time training alongside fundraising (including designing her own hoodies and tees!) - Kahlia shows incredible dedication to her journey 💪

💬 “Thank you very much for the support. It makes a massive difference to me and my season financially, and is also so special to be recognised through this award.”
Sport Bay of Plenty is proud to help administer scholarships like the Acorn Foundation Christine Tustain Sports Award that support local athletes doing great things in sport ✨

22/06/2026

📣 Refereeing isn’t easy.

Referees are required to make decisions in seconds, often from imperfect angles, with plenty of noise and emotion swirling around. In youth sport, this is usually done by someone who loves their sport and has volunteered so children can participate, not by a full time professional official with multiple cameras, slow motion replays, or a team of assistants.

When adults yell at referees, question every call, or replay decisions from the sidelines or on the car ride home, young people notice.

They watch that behaviour and learn that frustration can justify disrespect.

On the flip side, when adults model calm responses, perspective, and empathy, kids learn how to regulate emotions, problem solve and move forward when things don’t go their way.

If we want our tamariki and rangatahi to develop emotional control and resilience, in sport and in life, we need to show them what that looks like in real time.



WaiBOP Football Federation WaiBOP Futsal Bay of Plenty Hockey Tauranga Hockey Squash Bay of Plenty Tauranga Netball Centre Tauranga City Basketball Association 2.0 BayActive Sports Leagues

09/06/2026

The Positive Vibes Only Competition is here, get involved! 🩷 We’re celebrating the people and moments that bring Positive Vibes Only to life across sport in the Bay.

Nominate those bringing the best energy:
🙌 Most Positive Team
💬 Most Positive Coach
🔊 Biggest Vibe Bringer
📸 Best Positive Vibes Only Photo
🎀 Best Dressed in Pink Photo

Each category winner receives a $100 Prezzy Card. Nominators have a chance to win too, with 5 $50 Prezzy cards to be drawn.

Entries close Monday 20 July. To enter, complete the form
👉 https://forms.office.com/r/YFDjmqFR5y

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

See it. Nominate it. Celebrate it.


Tauranga Netball Centre Tauranga City Basketball Association 2.0 Tauranga Hockey Bay of Plenty Hockey WaiBOP Football Federation Squash Bay of Plenty BayActive WaiBOP Futsal

07/06/2026

Pink Week is here and it’s time to bring the positive vibes 💕

A chance to reset, refocus, and commit to the behaviours that make sport enjoyable, safe and welcoming.

Set the tone by:
📣 Cheering effort, not just results. Recognise teamwork, persistence and improvement
🙌 Supporting officials. Respect decisions and model calm, positive behaviour
🗣 Using positive language (reo pai) – on sidelines, in coaching moments, and online
🩷 Wearing or sharing pink where you can. Stickers, tattoos, vests or signs all help signal the message
📢 Calling out the good – acknowledge and reinforce positive behaviour when you see it (whakamana i te pai)

Every positive interaction helps shape the environment. When positivity is visible, it becomes the norm (ka noho hei tikanga).

Positive Vibes Only (Me pai te wairua) is built on respect, positivity and shared responsibility. Whether you’re coaching, officiating, supporting from the sideline, or volunteering behind the scenes, your behaviour helps shape the sporting (hākinakina) experience.

Thanks to our partners: Tauranga Netball Centre , Tauranga City Basketball Association 2.0 Tauranga Hockey Bay of Plenty Hockey WaiBOP Football Federation Squash Bay of Plenty BayActive WaiBOP Futsal 📸

He waka eke noa
We are all in this together

Will you join us?

Find out more here 👇
https://www.sportbop.co.nz/news--events/news/pink-week-bringing-positive-vibes-only-to-life/

This winter

26/05/2026

We’re proud to support Positive Vibes Only this winter as part of a Bay of Plenty collective of sports organisations and partners.

Positive Vibes Only is about creating sport environments where young people can enjoy the game, feel supported and stay involved for longer 💪

The sideline sets the tone, and small, positive behaviours can make a big difference for players, coaches, officials and whānau 🩷

Clubs and supporters will be able to access resources and share key messages.

We’ll also need your help to recognise positive people in our sporting community.

Follow along for more information during Pink Week, starting Monday 8 June.

Be part of it. Lead with positivity
Tauranga Netball Centre, Tauranga City Basketball Association 2.0, Tauranga Hockey, Bay of Plenty Hockey, WaiBOP Football Federation, Squash Bay of Plenty, BayActive WaiBOP Futsal

Find out more 👇

https://www.sportbop.co.nz/news--events/news/positive-vibes-only-me-pai-te-wairua--launches-this-winter/

21/05/2026

Don't forget to get head on over to the Healthvision Festival of Disability Sport on this weekend (23-24 May) supported by our friends at Parafed Bay of Plenty. 😎 It's a great chance to play, try something new or just enjoy the atmosphere at one of Aotearoa's largest disability sporting events. ☀

Saturday and Sunday features the Wheelchair Rugby League Festival games supported by the Warriors Community Foundation, as well as have-a-go sessions with Sailability Tauranga and Circability.

Check out the full programme at 👉https://parafedbop.co.nz/healthvision-festival-of-disability-sport

01/05/2026

Positive vibes for coaches to coach and players to have fun. Way to go Tauranga Hockey 🙌

And we are off!! First night of intermediate competition and the start of our new Pink Badge Umpire Programme for our intermediate school competition. Tom, Lachie, Luisa and Logan have been busy !!

Running along side this is the new Positive Vibes Only Programme 💕 creating a positive atmosphere for the coaches to coach and for players to really have fun and enjoy the game. Big thanks to Trudi and Wayne from Sport Bay of Plenty for their help in launching it tonight.

10/04/2026

Nau mai, ako mai, tākaro mai!

Are you a kaiako wanting to learn tākaro Māori for you and your kura? Come join a workshop on Thursday 16 April, 9am-2pm, facilitated by Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa and Sport Bay of Plenty at Te Koutu Marae, Rotorua. Register at https://shorturl.at/o6EfY

27/03/2026

📣 Scholarship Alert! | Christine Tustain Sports Award 💰
Applications are open. Apply now 👉 www.sportbop.co.nz/funding

Are you, or someone you know, a top athlete in the Western Bay of Plenty? This Acorn Foundation - encouraging giving for the Western BOP scholarship supports young talent striving for international success!

We’re looking for an athlete who: 👀
🔹 Is studying, training, or working in the Western Bay of Plenty
🔹 Aged 16 – 23
🔹 Has achieved national representation in their sport
🔹 Can outline their pathway to international competition

📸 Recent recipient Carter Hopoi 🙌

Applications close 3 May 2026.

Tag an athlete who should apply!