Last Friday, over 200 students from 10 schools across the Manawatu region gathered in Palmerston North to celebrate the launch of the new-look BNZ Kiwi Hoops programme.
In addition to students from as far away as Fielding, Ashhurst and Dannevirke, the launch saw high-profile ballers including Ella Fotu, Taylor Britt, Nikau McCullough and Lauren Te Whata on hand to guide the children through the fun and engaging sessions.
Basketball NZ (BBNZ) Chief Executive, Dillon Boucher was also in attendance and says that thanks to the recent partnership with BNZ, the refreshed BNZ Kiwi Hoops Programme has unlocked new potential to grow the game at a grassroots level – and inspire the next generation of basketballers.
“Basketball is on track to be the most popular sport in New Zealand, so partnering with BNZ allows BBNZ to provide more opportunities for more young Kiwis to engage with basketball,” says Boucher.
“BNZ Kiwi Hoops ties in perfectly with our vision of ‘hoops in the heart of every community’; we want to see more tamariki and rangatahi healthy, active and having fun out there on the courts. We hope to reach 25,000 tamariki across Aotearoa this year through the BNZ Kiwi Hoops programme, and envision this number will only continue to grow.“
BNZ CEO Dan Huggins says at BNZ they are committed to growing the social, cultural and financial wellbeing of New Zealanders, and believe in the power of sport to bring people together and inspire positive change.
“We’re incredibly excited to be helping get more Kiwi kids into basketball through our support of the Kiwi Hoops programme alongside Basketball New Zealand,” says Huggins.
Boucher believe it was important to relaunch the BNZ Kiwi Hoops programme with a new look that appeals to its target audience – children and young adults – by offering something fun, vibrant, modern, accessible and specifically for them.
“We know that positive experiences for Tamariki often lead to lifelong involvement in the game. We also know that kids have needs which differ from adults in the basketball environment, and their experiences in basketball should reflect this.
“Success at this age shouldn’t be defined by the scoreboard, it should be about tamariki learning through organic and informal play, developing their skills and enjoying the game. This not only helps us grow the sport at the grassroots level, but also builds a strong foundation for the future of basketball in New Zealand – by developing the next generation of players.”
WHAT IS BNZ KIWI HOOPS?
BNZ Kiwi Hoops is the Basketball New Zealand national basketball programme for tamariki.
It uses basketball activities and games-based learning to build fundamentals and support tamariki to develop their confidence and grow their love for the game. The programme is aligned to Sport New Zealand/Ihi Aotearoa and FIBA, and is helping to meet the growing demand for young Kiwis wanting to play basketball.
Find out more at bbnz.link/kiwihoops
BNZ Kiwi Hoops has five official delivery models and in 2024 will be delivered by approved delivery partners across the country. These include:
- In-school 4-8 week programme
- After-school 4-8 week programme
- 1-off activations – in schools and/or communities
- Holiday programme(s)
- Gameplay formats
To access BNZ Kiwi Hoops Programme, you can either:
- Download the Coachmate App (www.coachmate.sport/bbnz) at home to access the programme for free, or
- Find your local basketball association (nz.basketball/the-huddle) to register for a programme in your area.
