All abilities whānau day
There will be opportunities to try out powerchair football with members of the Dunedin PFC Dragons or hungerball with Hungerball Otago.
Email zoe@halberg.co.nz for details and registration.
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Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
All abilities whānau day
The Halberg Foundation and Parafed Otago are holding an All Abilities Dunedin Whānau Day on Sunday, from 1pm to 3pm at Taieri College. There will be opportunities to try out powerchair football with members of the Dunedin PFC Dragons or hungerball with Hungerball Otago. Email zoe@ for details and registration.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- NZ Herald
On the Up: Halberg Foundation launch ‘Make Play Possible' to help kids with disabilities play sport
But the costs are making it more difficult for people to participate, and Halberg Foundation chief executive Tom Smith is desperate to change that. ' Sir Murray said that everyone should have the opportunity to play sport,' said Smith. 'We're still failing them because there's still thousands of young people out there that just aren't getting the opportunity to participate in sport. 'If you're not actively participating in sport or you're not part of a team or a group of people, you're going to lack self-confidence. These opportunities that people miss in sport, they lead to lack of ... opportunities in life.' Isabel Venter is an example of a child who has benefited from the Halberg Activity Fund grant. She was born with an upper limb difference and, with the support of Halberg, she managed to participate in the Games and start riding lessons. 'I really like being around the horses,' said Isabel. 'It makes me feel happy, calm and relaxed. When I first started I was quite weak and couldn't do everything I wanted to, but I'm getting stronger. 'I really enjoyed Halberg Games because I could compete with other people with the same limb difference as me. 'My favourite part was the rock climbing because it exercises both of my arms. I loved the experience, and I hope I can go again.' Despite all that, Smith is pleased to see the number of kids benefiting from taking part in events like the Halberg Games, which is proving to be a stepping stone to further success. He highlights the success of wheelchair racers Jaden Movold and Sarah James, who have benefited from participating. 'It's also about the kids coming to the Halberg Games for the very first time,' said Smith. 'These are children who often aren't picked for Aims Games or rep teams. They're the ones left behind in class when their peers get to put on the Auckland Blues jersey or the green of Manawatu. 'They're left out, and for them, the Halberg Games might be the first time they're away from home without their parents. 'It could be the first time they're managing their own medication, and it becomes a real coming-of-age experience. 'I always say to people that we talk about creating moments of joy, but the finish line at the Halberg Games is just this amazing place of humanity.'
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Halberg Games providing inspiration for Amy Ellis chasing Paralympic dreams
Ellis is a T13 athlete, specialising in 100m, 200m, and 400m racing, and is legally blind, having been born with three conditions. Nystagmus, a condition characterised by involuntary, rhythmic, and repetitive eye movements, coloboma, where part of the eye structure is missing, giving her larger pupils, and convergent squints, where one eye usually turns inward. Despite all this, the 18-year-old already holds multiple age-grade New Zealand records in all three disciplines, plus long jump for T13 Para women, and is targeting higher honours. 'My ultimate goal is to go to the 2028 Paralympics,' said Ellis. 'More short term, I would love to participate in the Ocean champs and possibly then the World Para Athletics Championships.' Recently, in her first competition in Australia, Ellis set a new personal best of 29.30s in the 200m. Like most kids, Ellis loves sport, and she initially played football for four years with able-bodied kids before it got too challenging. Even at high school, there were difficulties with getting picked last for certain things because of her disability, but Ellis says simple changes like using a neon-yellow coloured football can make the world of difference. But after being introduced to the Halberg Foundation, Ellis has seen the Games grow, and it has given her the chance to try new sports like crossfit, snag golf and swimming. 'They are so inclusive, and I feel like I can truly embrace my disability and be open to the struggles that I have and be happy to ask for help. 'The games means so much to me, and that I can just meet new people as well with the same visual impairments or things like that as well.' Running has always been in Ellis' blood. In her primary school years, she would always run around the streets of Taranaki and take part in cross country and athletics days and even went on to the regionals in those competitions. But since focusing on sprints last year, Ellis says there was some adjustment, but she loves taking part. 'When I started with my coach, it was about giving them the knowledge of what I can see, what I can't see, and it's just a little adaptive stuff like putting a cone every 30 metres so I would know where to go. 'I initially started in lane one, so I would be able to see the difference between the grass and the track because I find it quite hard to see the white lines.' Ellis is also part of the Halberg Youth Council, which enabled her to take part in February's Halberg Awards. She was on stage alongside rowing great Rob Waddell to present Olympic gold medalist Hamish Kerr with his Sportsman of the Year award. 'I couldn't see Hamish coming towards me, and Rob was always whispering in my ear to say how far away he is. 'It was such a spectacular moment to be able to be like a visually impaired person can do this, that it's possible. It was so awesome to be able to be on live TV, present this award, and just have that moment of it was awesome.'
