02/06/2026
Wainuiomata Newspaper Wednesday 3rd June issue ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ธ๐
๐จ๐น๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ถ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐
There were no games over the long weekend, but it was still a jam-packed few days for Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball with strong community engagement and service at the heart of it all.
The long weekend kicked off with the clubโs annual and ever-popular Bingo Fundraiser held at the Wainuiomata Bowling Club, where a full house turned out in support. The atmosphere was lively with whฤnau, friends and supporters coming together for an enjoyable evening that highlighted the strong sense of connection within the Wainuiomata community.
Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the event a big success. Special thanks go to the Wainuiomata Bowling Club for allowing Ulalei to share the clubrooms on their club night and to Ulalei Wainuiomata Sports for the use of their event branding gear. The fundraiser was further strengthened by the incredible backing of the wider community including 11 table sponsorsG & S Roofing Ltd, Fast Flashing Solutions Limited, Hedz For Hair Salon, Muzzy Shirts, Fine Touch Catering, Time Insurance, Master Upholstery Experts, TJ Plumbgas, Petone Foot Clinic, Ulalei Wainuiomata Sport, Dame Luamanuvao Winnie Laban & Vaโa Family.
A further 28 local businesses donated generously allowing the winners to go home with some fabulous prizes - Coffee Strand, Cliveโs Chemist, Pak n Save Petone, Hedz for Hair Salon, Shoe Clinic Lower Hutt, Bottle O Basket, Wainuiomata, Creative Meats, Gillies whanau, STIHL Shop, Hon. Ginny Andersen, Charlies Sushi, Light House Cinema Petone, Moana Road, Dawnbake Bakery, Petone Foot Clinic, Woolworths Wainuiomata, Matiu Rฤwena, Just Beauty @ Wainui, Joes Cook, Way of Life Fitness, Recovery Hub, Salute Hair Skin Spa, Speights Ale House Petone, The Victorian Tavern, McDonalds, Dominoโs Pizza Wainuiomata, Pizza Hut Wainuiomata & KFC Wainuiomata
The Bingo Night is important for Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball helping to raise funds for equipment, uniforms and contributing towards essential costs such as umpiring at $200 per week and registration fees which cost $20,000 this year.
As the club continues to grow, this support allows the club to keep its fees low ensuring the opportunity to play netball remains accessible for all players and their whฤnau.
The following two days saw Ulalei continue its commitment to the wider community entering a team in the Relay for Life and raising funds for the fight against cancer. The club came together in a fantastic show of unity rostering members to walk laps at Hnry Stadium from 3pm Saturday through to 8am on Sunday morning. Players, coaches, managers and supporters were joined by their whฤnau all doing their part to support an important cause raising over $4,100.
Events like these reflect what Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball is truly about, community support and meaningful community engagement. Supporting the Relay for Life allows the club to give back and it also strengthens bonds across teams, building connections and unity throughout the entire club.
More than just a successful weekend it was a powerful reminder that Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball is more than a sports club, it is a village built on connection and service. The club looks forward to carrying this momentum through the rest of the sea*on, both on and off the court.
Ulalei Wainuiomata Netball encourages the community to continue supporting the businesses and groups who have so generously supported the club.
As Samoa Language Week is celebrated across Aotearoa NZ, Ulalei Wainuiomata Netballโs weekend of giving back is an inspiring reflection of this yearโs theme, โE afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le nuโuโ the success of the community comes from the strength of its people. From a packed fundraiser to walking through the night for Relay for Life, it was the collective effort of players, whฤnau and supporters that made it all possible. This is what Ulalei is built on: people coming together, supporting one another, and uplifting the wider community. Manuia le vaia*o o le gagana Samoa - Happy Samoa Language week.
