Blind Sport New Zealand

18/06/2026

Sharing Sense Rugby NZ Sensory Integration page. A super useful reminder that there are more senses involved in sport and play that the five senses we usually focus on.

Have a wee read up on vestibular (balance and movement), proprioception (body awareness), and interoception (internal awareness) using the link to their website below. 🤓🎓

Did you know that our brains have more than five senses?

Alongside the usual five (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell), there are three lesser-known systems that shape how we feel, focus, and function every day.

Vestibular - balance and movement
Proprioception - body awareness
Interoception - tuning into internal feelings like hunger, emotions and tiredness

When these senses are supported, tamariki and rangatahi can regulate, focus, and connect.

Sense Rugby sessions are built on whole-body input that helps tamariki and rangatahi find their "just right" state. Feeling calm, confident, and ready to engage. 🎉

✨ Check out our new Sensory Integration page to learn more! ✨
www.senserugby.co.nz/sensory-integration

18/06/2026

Sharing Equestrian Sports NZ Fab Friday post: How awesome is this story highlighting Claudia and her Clydie-cross called Zach 🐎
As part of our recent website refresh, we’re really grateful for building relationships with National Sport Organisations like Equestrian Sports NZ; who help us get the correct info on our sport pages and bring real stories like this to share and inspire.
Check out the link below to read more about Claudia, and to find info on the Blind Sport NZ Emerging Athlete Weekend coming up - ANY one over 13 from any sport background is welcome to apply. 👇
PS: Happy Birthday Claudia! 🎂

18/06/2026

We’re sharing: Paralympics NZ Bupa Inclusive Para Sport Grant
A great opportunity to grow Para sport and make programmes more inclusive.
Info session: Monday 22 June.
Applications close: Friday 15 July, 5pm.
Find out more via the PNZ link shared below.
Paralympics New Zealand

The PNZ Bupa Inclusive Para Sport Grant is an awesome opportunity to host an event or programme to get more people involved in Para sport!

Whether you want to include more disabled people in your programmes, or get more coaches and staff up to speed with Para sport - now is the perfect time!

📆 We are hosting a drop-in information session on Monday 22 June which you can tune in to ask any questions.

✏️ Applications for the Grant close on Friday 15 July at 5pm.

Head to the link in our bio to find out details!

Bupa NZ

18/06/2026

National Volunteer Week 💙
A big thank you to all the volunteers across the country who support kiwis getting active! Your encouragement, time, and communication help SO much! 🙌
Little extra shout out to Achilles International New Zealand who do an amazing job and welcome new volunteers and run/walk/rollers all over NZ.

The photo below is of when Chelsea joined the Auckland Chapter for a walk around Cornwall Park. The group are standing in front of the Auckland museum in the sun!

17/06/2026

Blind Sport NZ is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for our upcoming Emerging Athlete Weekend, taking place in Ōtautahi Christchurch from 21–23 August.

Open to people aged 13 and over with a vision impairment, this weekend offers an opportunity to take part in sport testing, as well as access classification and information sessions.

It’s a welcoming space to build confidence, connect with others, and explore your pathway goals in sport.

Submitting an EOI helps us shape this year’s group and better understand interest across the country. It also helps inform how we continue to create opportunities for athletes in the future.

👉 EOIs close 20 July
👉Get the form on our website: https://www.blindsport.kiwi/opportunities/overview-of-opportunities
👉 We will be in touch with everyone who completes it.

This event is in partnership with Paralympics New Zealand Cycling New Zealand Athletics New Zealand Swimming New Zealand and supported by ParaFed Canterbury
Parafed Bay of Plenty Northland Waikato Parafed Bay of Plenty Parafed Gisborne, Tairawhiti Sport and Recreation Hawkes Bay Disability Sport Auckland DSports ParaFed Otago Inclusive Activity Murihiku Parafed Manawatu New Zealand ABSRC Zealand Blind and Vision Impaired Indoor Bowls Federation Blind Citizens NZ

11/06/2026

It's encouraging to hear IBSA talking about the future of blind sport and the need to move beyond “just existing.” Their focus on stronger governance, long‑term planning, athlete pathways, integrity, and true global development reflects a major shift in how sport in general is being shaped.

The article highlights a move away from a competition‑to‑competition mindset and toward building sustainable systems, better classification processes, regional development, and more opportunities for athletes at every level. 🏅🎯

It’s a reminder that meaningful progress happens when organisations think bigger and pull together. It’s exciting to see this global direction aligning with the work we’ve been doing at Blind Sport NZ. 🫶

👏Full article link here or bio: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/arajo-ibsa-no-longer-wants-simply-to-exist
International Blind Sports Federation - IBSA

The member-at-large and liaison with the Americas discussed reforms towards São Paulo 2026 and Tashkent 2027, with the organisation moving through a phase shaped by governance, regional strategy, integrity and sports development.

10/06/2026

The IBSA Goalball World Championships are happening right now in Hangzhou, China (6–16 June 2026), with competition running from today (10 June) through to the finals on 15 June.
Note: New Zealand isn’t competing this year, but we’re looking forward to following the action and feeling inspired!

📺 Watch it live here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com//streams

10–13 June → Pool matches
14 June → Knockout rounds
15 June → Finals & medal matches

Goalball New Zealand ABSRC Manukau South Blind Sports Club

The official YouTube channel of the the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). Watch videos and live coverage of major competitions from a host of sports for athletes with visual impairments. We are the global governing body for IBSA Judo, IBSA Goalball and IBSA Blind Football.

08/06/2026

We’re really proud to share the new Blind Sport NZ website 🙌
Shaped by feedback from whānau across NZ, it’s all about making it clearer how to explore sport and see what’s possible.
A big step forward is our new sports pages, developed alongside National Sporting Organisations, plus a new Sport FAQ section to help answer those key “where do we start?” questions.

Membership is a key part of this.
It’s free for individuals, and organisation membership is also free until our next AGM. Together, this helps us understand where people and organisations are, so we can better connect, support, and grow opportunities across NZ.

A big thank you to Sporty and the for supporting this work.

A great lunge forward... and we are just at the beginning!
https://www.sporty.co.nz/blindsportnz?em=0&ts=0.5668893754022178


Paralympics New Zealand Achilles International New Zealand Cycling New Zealand Equestrian Sports NZ Goalball New Zealand New Zealand Blind and Vision Impaired Indoor Bowls Federation New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowls Association Rowing NZ Blindsided NZ - Vision Loss Support Page Blind Sailing New Zealand Sailability Wellington Snow Sports NZ Swimming New Zealand Tennis NZ Judo New Zealand PGA of New Zealand Disability Golf NZ Parents of Vision Impaired - NZ Blind Citizens NZ

Blind Sport NZ is the National Disability Sport Organisation for blind and low vision sport in Aotearoa New Zealand...

02/06/2026

Sharing the below from Achilles International New Zealand 👇
Young athletes or guides (ages 12–24) can nominate themselves, or be nominated, for the new Youth Rangatahi Ambassador Group.
More details in the post below.
Also a lovely photo of John, chapter leader of Achilles Auckland with the super awesome speedy Bokeh runner NZ smiling away in their bright yellow Achilles kit! 💛

Are you a YOUTH member (12-24 years) of Achilles International New Zealand or do you know someone who is, an Athlete and/or Guide?
We want you to be a nomination for our NEW Achilles NZ Youth- Rangatahi Ambassador Group! We want to hear your voice!

Click the link below if you are keen and fill out the details, by Sunday 14th June - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/x0Kvn6rV4Y

02/06/2026

So exciting to see Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges (pilot) named to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games 🇳🇿🚴‍♀️
Competing in the Women’s Tandem B Sprint and 1000m Time Trial
Woohoo! Let's go!

Check out the details of the other amazing athletes representing NZ in the post shared below.
Paralympics New Zealand Cycling New Zealand