| Sport Hawke’s Bay today announced a major partnership with Westpac New Zealand Ltd that is set to boost several existing programmes and some new initiatives in 2009.
Sport Hawke’s Bay chief executive Colin Stone said the partnership was a significant boost to the community as it would ensure several successful programmes would continue in 2009. |
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“We’ve got some great programmes that are growing and with further funding they will be even more successful.”
Westpac’s Hawke’s Bay Area Manager Paul Toomey, said the partnership is a good fit with the Bank, which has a strong stable of community sponsorship programmes.
“Westpac’s values encompass all aspects of life – our strapline is ‘Making The Most Of Life’, and that includes being physically fit and active, and making sport and leisure accessible to everyone,” says Mr Toomey. “Our local Westpac team is looking forward to working closely with Colin and his team for the benefit of the wider community.”
Mr Stone said one programme which could benefit from Westpac’s partnership was the PAL (Physical Activity Leaders) programme which has seen participation at local primary schools double in the last two years.
PAL is an initiative to encourage physical activity at lunchtime for school students, using senior students to lead lunchtime activities and games, to help combat obesity.
Mr Stone said money would also be set aside to develop a monthly secondary school awards programme for individuals and sports groups.
Westpac will also be the lead sponsor in the Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Sports Awards and will sponsor a major category in the Gen-i Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards.
“We are thrilled that Westpac has come on board as a funding partner and they have already taken on a proactive role and assisting us with our programmes,” says Mr Stone.
Sport Hawke's Bay and Westpac already have a good working relationship through the Halberg Sport Opportunity Programme which helps young disabled people take part in sport and leisure activities alongside their peers in an inclusive environment. Westpac staff often volunteer to help Halberg Trust participants at sporting events.
