“The Hand Up Fund has been used towards propelling my senior level of badminton. 2019 will be my first year as a senior (open age group), and I have a few long term and short term goals in mind. Ultimately, I would want to compete for New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 Olympic Games. For this to happen I need to slowly start competing on the senior circuit which requires me to play many international tournaments to get my ranking up.

The Hand Up Fund will also go towards other international tournaments I will be playing throughout the year as I need to gain more points. The money will go towards mostly the flights and accommodation for the upcoming tournaments. My first tournament will be the Oceania championships in Melbourne where I will use the money to pay for my flights plus the accommodation during the trip.

I am grateful for having received this funding and I hope I will continue to represent North Harbour well on the international stage.”

– Oscar Guo – Badminton North Harbour

“I’ve just raced at the Oceania and NZ Canoe Racing Championships this past weekend and it went better then I could’ve even dreamed! I took home 5 NZ and Oceania Titles including my first ever individual NZ title (in any age group or sport)!

I just want to say thank you so much to you and everyone else at North Harbour Sport for the Hand Up Fund that I received, I put this funding towards a brand new $7000 Nelo Sete K1 Kayak which is made in Portugal and has just been released in time for the Tokyo Olympics!”

– Ashton Reiser – Kayaking

“After receiving the award, I used it to fund my trip to the Australian National Championships. 

It was an important learning experience for next year where I would like to aim for top 5 at the very same competition.

The trip was important in regards to staying with other athletes and preparing for major events as we had to effectively plan and operate entirely by ourselves as athletes. It made for an incredible experience and I’m sure it will be incredibly useful going into a European season prior to the World University Games next year.”

– James Steyn – North Harbour Bays Athletics

“Tennis is a very expensive sport and I am grateful for the $1000 you gave me. It means a lot to me when other people show support apart from my mum and dad as it encourages me that I am not alone and there are other people who believe in me and want me to succeed. I am currently based in Barcelona at an academy and the $1000 allowed me to travel to Estonia and Lithuania to compete in ITF Futures tournaments which were a great experience and an important part of my development. I am very grateful for the Hand Up Fund that helped me to do this.”

– Macsen Sisam – Tennis Northern

“I used the grant towards entry fees and travel expenses in the Oceania Junior Championships and New Zealand Junior Open.

I learned a lot from entering these tournaments and I believe they have helped me grow as an athlete.”

– Matthew Lucente – Squash North Harbour