This week is Youth Week, an initiative celebrating rangatahi across Aotearoa. Here at Bowls Auckland, we’re thrilled to see participation numbers for rangatahi in bowls continuing to grow at an increasingly rapid rate. Youth Week is a great opportunity to reflect on some of the fantastic initiatives and experiences we’ve been lucky enough to be part of with clubs over the past couple of months.
Thank You, Ellerslie!
The team at Ellerslie Bowling Club has generously donated their indoor bowls sets and mats to eager schools across Tāmaki Makaurau. Twelve schools are now proud owners of their own kits, all sharing a common goal of engaging more students in bowls.
These indoor sets make it easier for students to practice during the winter months and provide greater accessibility for a range of participants. For some students at Central Auckland Specialist School, the smaller bowls are easier to handle and have helped increase prolonged engagement in the game, with one teacher commenting they had “never seen some of them so focused”.
A huge thank you to Kau and the wider team at Ellerslie for your generosity and support in helping spread awareness and enjoyment of bowls.
Lynfield School
Tamariki Roll Up
We’re starting to see more and more tamariki (kids aged 5–11) taking to the green! Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the pleasure of working with nearly 250 youngsters from Piha, Golden Grove School, and Bucklands Beach Primary. Using the Rookie Roller sets introduces kids to their local clubs in a fun, engaging, and accessible way.
Bucklands Beach Bowling Club recently hosted Year 4 and 5 students from their local primary school over a two-week intergenerational learning experience. Club members joined the tamariki on the green, sharing tips, tricks, and plenty of encouragement along the way. As Club Secretary Philippa Wilson, who helped organise the programme, said: “I’m not sure who enjoyed it the most, the students or the club members.”
If you’re interested in getting your tamariki and rangatahi into action, make sure to bring them along to one of our free Family Days in June:
- Saturday 6 June, 1–4pm at Royal Oak Bowls
- Saturday 13 June, 1–4pm at New Lynn Bowls
Youth Focus Groups
Sport NZ has partnered with youth development peak body, Ara Taiohi to help embed the Mana Taiohi principles within its active recreation for rangatahi plan. This principles-based framework helps guide organisations in developing best-practice approaches for working with young people in Aotearoa.
Following these guidelines, Bowls Auckland is planning to conduct focus groups with young people from schools and clubs who have engaged with our Rangatahi Roll Up programme. The aim is to ensure the programme continues to reflect the wants and needs of rangatahi.
If your club has any 12–18 year olds who would be interested in taking part in these focus groups, please contact Hannah at [email protected].
