Tēnā tātou e te whānau i runga i te kāpua pouri mo te iwi whānui o Poirewa Aotearoa nei,

Volleyball in New Zealand is in mourning following the passing of Tony Thomas.

In 2019 he was honoured with Volleyball New Zealand’s Distinguished Service Award after being awarded Life Membership with Volleyball Tasman in 2014.

Tony's remarkable journey spanned almost 40 years as a player, coach, national assistant coach, national A referee, and international beach Volleyball referee.

His expertise and dedication saw him appointed by the International Federation to Beach Tour events in Asia and Brazil, and as the Beach Referee Manager for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Tony's leadership was also instrumental in shaping the future volleyball in the Tasman region.

The Staff and Board of Volleyball New Zealand extend our sincere condolences to Tony’s whānau, friends and the Volleyball Tasman community at this time.

Kua maringi mai ngā roimata 
Kua māturuturu te hupe
Kua ea ai te mamae o te ngākau
Kua au tō moe e te rangatira.

Kia tere tau anō te mouri me te aio ki a kōutou ngā whānau e pani ana, ko tātou hoki e te whānau Poirewa Aotearoa.

May stability and calmness reconcile quickly with those that are grieving, and to all of us within the family of Volleyball New Zealand.

Tēnā tātou e te whānau i runga i te kāpua pouri mo te iwi whānui o Poirewa Aotearoa nei,

Volleyball in New Zealand is in mourning following the passing of Mātua Phil George.

Phil received a Volleyball New Zealand Service Award in 2004 and was a revered coach of volleyball for Western Heights High School in Rotorua for decades.

Western Heights has achieved national titles under Phil’s leadership and guidance. His contribution to the school also extends to coaching the First XV rugby side to multiple Moascar Cup victories.

The Staff and Board of Volleyball New Zealand extend our sincere condolences to Phil’s whānau, friends and colleagues at Western Heights High School at this time.

Kua maringi mai ngā roimata 
Kua māturuturu te hupe
Kua ea ai te mamae o te ngākau
Kua au tō moe e te rangatira.

Kia tere tau anō te mouri me te aio ki a kōutou ngā whānau e pani ana, ko tātou hoki e te whānau Poirewa Aotearoa.

May stability and calmness reconcile quickly with those that are grieving, and to all of us within the family of Volleyball New Zealand.

Volleyball NZ and ASICS have teamed up to give you the chance to win your ASICS footwear purchase back for the month of July!

Shop for your new ASICS footwear for the club season on https://www.asics.com/nz/en-nz/ and you can win your purchase back.

Details

• Shop for your new ASICS footwear on https://www.asics.com/nz/en-nz/ with the chance to win your purchase back *
• Enter VOLLEYBALLNZ at checkout to be in the weekly prize draw.
• 2 winners per week will be drawn for 4 weeks
• * win your purchase back will be an ASICS voucher equivalent to the dollar amount spent in the transaction. 

Terms and Conditions

• Competition is only valid on www.asics.co.nz
• Valid on any full price order.
• The prize will be provided as a voucher to re-use on the asics.com/nz website to the value you spent in your transaction. 
• Competition is valid from Monday 1^st July 2024 12:00am – Sunday 28^th 2024 11:59pm
• Winner will be drawn at random and announced on Volleyball NZ website and social channels.
• 2 winners per week for 4 weeks. Winners will be drawn on: Monday 8 July, Monday 15 July, Monday 22 July, Monday 29 July
• Open to NZ residents only.

Volleyball was included in the recent King’s Birthday honours list with Grant Harrison made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

Harrison’s over 40-year dedication to the game across a range of roles including administration, governance, coaching, and participation was acknowledged with the national award.

The Northland Volleyball stalwart said the honour was unexpected and humbling for a range of reasons.

“I have received awards as part of team successes, I have been acknowledged for services to volleyball locally and regionally in particular in coaching - but the significance of this recognition is far wider,” Harrison said.

“It makes me aware of an impact wider than who is in front of you at any given time.”

Since the announcement, Harrison has been flooded with messages of congratulations with whānau featuring heavily in several ways.

“A lot of that is to do with family members of people I’ve been involved with in the game so that is quite rewarding.

“I just want to acknowledge everyone who has made a contribution to this and will continue to do so. My support network of my wife and family has been invaluable.”

Harrison led Te Puke High School’s Senior Girls’ team to three national championships in the 1980s which led to his appointment as the coach for the Under-19 New Zealand Junior Women’s Volleyball team and served as head coach for NZ’s senior Women’s National team between 1991 to 1996.

He became the regional sport director of Sport Northland in 1994, holding the position for 26 years.

He has been involved in the development of indoor and beach volleyball, assisting with the National Beach Volleyball circuit, and coaches the Under-17 and Under-19 Northland Inter-Provincial teams, providing opportunities for player selection for national camps.

“I have been fortunate to work in sport and I am enthusiastic about that, and I am grateful to be acknowledged for doing something that is important to me. It also gives me cause to reflect on those who have supported and encouraged me on this journey and to those who I have impacted. It means a lot to me that I have had the impact on people to have them nominate me for recognition rather than the recognition itself.”

He said he developed his love for sport from his father and was also influenced by Phil Merritt, the first volleyball coach who was able to mentor him in the first few years of coaching and Keith Roberts who introduced him to the science involved in sport. There were a range of other people influential in his roles in volleyball, all important if you have a continuous learning mindset.

“I hope I have passed on a love of sport being more than just what you play, it’s about personal development. It gives you a greater understanding of yourself and your capabilities as well as an acceptance of differences. A personal focus of the work I have done has been coaching. I take pleasure in seeing athletes become better people as well as better athletes.”

Information from The Northern Advocate was used in this story.