School Sport NZ have announced that Secondary Schools Tournament Week has been cancelled due to the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in New Zealand.
Netball New Zealand, in conjunction with the organisers of the South Island, Lower North Island and Upper North Island Secondary Schools events, are disappointed that these events will not go ahead for a second year in a row but believe that School Sport NZ’s decision is the right one for all participants, officials, organisers and volunteers.
An update on the FUJIFILM Business Innovation NZ Secondary Schools Netball Champs due to played at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua from October 12-15 will be provided as soon as possible.
The three regional events South Island Secondary Schools, Lower North Island Secondary Schools and Upper North Island Secondary Schools which were to be played in Timaru, Hawke's Bay and Auckland in early September will remain at the same venues but will now be rescheduled for 2022.
Netball NZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie said they understood the disappointment felt by secondary school netballers around the country after the events were rescheduled for a second year in a row.
“This is another difficult decision faced by event organisers in the Covid era, and while it is hugely disappointing it’s important we all continue to put the health and safety of all involved first,” she said.
The cancellation of these events for 2021 will be disappointing for students across New Zealand and in particular students who are in their last year of secondary school.
These events are important opportunities in the athlete pathway for identifying players with future potential. Netball NZ will work with Zones to ensure strong links to player identification systems within Zones and opportunities continue to exist for aspiring players later in 2021 and into 2022.
The venues that were to host the three netball events this year will host them in 2022 and seedings for the regional events will roll over to next year.
2022 Secondary School Event Details:
South Island Secondary Schools Netball Champs
29 Aug - 1 Sep
Aorangi Park in Timaru
Lower North Island Secondary Schools Netball Champs
29 Aug - 2 Sep
Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hawke's Bay
Upper North Island Secondary Schools Netball Champs
29 Aug - 2 Sep
Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre, Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland