Tauranga gearing up to host the national Festival of Disability Sport

The Healthvision Festival of Disability Sport, which is organised by Parafed Bay of Plenty and is one of New Zealand’s largest disability sporting events, will be held in the city for the sixth time on the 10th and 11th of May.

And this year, one of New Zealand’s favourite sporting franchises is taking part.

The Warriors Community Foundation team will be running a rugby league drills and skills session at Mercury Baypark Arena in Mount Maunganui on the Sunday.

Mercury Baypark Arena will also be hosting a multitude of other sporting codes over the action-packed weekend – there will be everything from badminton, boccia and cricket to wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

There will also be sailing sessions run by Sailability Tauranga at Tauranga Marina at Sulphur Point on the Saturday from 10am. And the “Tri Games” – lawn bowls, petanque, and croquet – will be held at Club Mount Maunganui on the Saturday from 2pm.

“This year’s Festival of Disability Sport builds on what we have established in the past five years,” Amanda Lowry, Parafed Bay of Plenty board member and wheelchair rugby player, said.

“Every year the festival is growing, and we are able to offer more competitive opportunities to our sporting community, this year introducing rugby league to the already stacked agenda.”

Lowry said the festival is for anybody with a physical disability, including low vision and hearing impairments, as well as whānau, friends and supporters.

She said there will be plenty of have-a-go sessions on offer at Mercury Baypark Arena throughout the weekend which are fully inclusive for all to enjoy and are really important for families with younger tamariki who haven’t found their sporting passion yet.

“We want them to fall in love with disability sport – they are the athletes of the future.”

There will also be a formal awards evening event at Mercury Baypark Stadium Lounge on the Saturday, celebrating the athletes who are competing nationally and internationally.

“We recognise the barriers that they have overcome to put Aotearoa and disability sport on the map,” Lowry said.

She encouraged anyone unfamiliar with disability sport to come along and check out the festival.

“You will be blown away by the athleticism and the skill of our athletes, you might even get a chance to jump in a chair and give it a bash,” Lowry said.

“Watching disability sport paves the way for alternative thinking about difference – it expands ideas about athleticism, and highlights the importance of inclusion.”

Wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball will both be holding two-day national tournaments at Mercury Baypark Arena as part of the festival.

There will also be a market set up in the foyer with physio and sports massage available, along with stalls providing information on a wide range of products and programmes, from adaptive surfing to adaptive gym equipment.

“As the proud and dedicated sponsor of the Healthvision Festival of Disability Sport for another year, we are excited to celebrate the strength, determination, and resilience of all the incredible athletes taking part,” Debra Williams from Healthvision said.

“This festival is not just about sport; it's a powerful celebration of inclusion and the inspiring spirit of those who push boundaries every day. Join us for an action-packed weekend for all – come along, have a go, and be part of the excitement. We look forward to seeing you there.”

Paul Dunphy, General Manager of Facilities at Bay Venues, said Mercury Baypark is proud to once again host “this fun-filled festival of sport”.

“The energy inside our venue over this festival weekend is always electric and we love welcoming in athletes and supporters from right around the country,” Dunphy said.

“Each year this event grows in size and offering and the spirit of sport and community connection shines through. We can’t wait to see what the Warriors will bring to the already stacked programme of sport and recreation.”

Lincoln Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Warriors Community Foundation, said as well as the skills and drills session, his team will be leading a wheelchair rugby league showdown game on the Sunday, with members of the community welcome to join in.

“Sport is for everyone. The Healthvision Festival of Disability Sport is all about giving it a go, celebrating inclusion, and having fun – whether you’re playing, supporting, or just getting involved.”

For more information about the event, visit: https://parafedbop.co.nz/healthvision-festival-of-disability-sport