Rivercity Pickleball August 2026 Newsletter
Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00
Rivercity Pickleball — August 2026 Newsletter
Brrrr… those mornings and nights are cold, but the great thing about pickleball is — the game goes on!
It’s been fantastic to see good numbers continuing to turn up through winter. Plenty is happening behind the scenes too, from membership renewals and player development to our outdoor courts and plans for the months ahead.
Here’s your August update.
STAYING WARM ON COURT
Cold weather doesn't need to stop the pickleball!
A few winter reminders:
- Layer up: Wear thin layers so you can remove them as you warm up.
- Bring a jacket or hoodie: Especially for those breaks between games.
- Warm up properly: A quick dynamic warm-up before hitting the court will help get everything moving — yeah right! π
- Keep your pickleball warm: Pop a ball in your pocket before playing. Colder temperatures affect how the ball plays and can make balls more prone to breaking.
Most importantly — keep moving and keep having fun!
2026/27 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their Rivercity Pickleball membership — and a big welcome to our new members!
We've made the renewal process as simple as possible.
Membership Fees
Adult Membership: $130
Junior Membership: $50
Complete the 2026/27 Player Registration to renew your membership or join the club as a new player.
Payment can be made directly to:
Rivercity Pickleball Club Inc
ANZ: 06-0793-0876757-00
Reference: Subs
Once your registration and payment have been received, your membership will be processed and you'll receive confirmation.
Payment plans are also available.
Annual subscriptions were due on 9 August, so if yours is still outstanding, please arrange payment before your next match.
WHERE DO YOUR MEMBERSHIP SUBS GO?
We want to continue being transparent with members about where your money goes.
The increase in membership fees for 2026/27 is primarily about sustaining the club's growth and keeping pace with increasing costs.
Your membership helps support:
- Coaching programmes — coming soon
- Venue improvements and accessibility, including indoor and outdoor playing opportunities
- Equipment
- More pickleball and increased event choices
- Affiliation to Pickleball New Zealand
- Administration and software upgrades
At the time of this newsletter, the club did not have access to gaming funding agencies until affiliation with Pickleball New Zealand could be achieved, which we hoped would happen later in 2026.
In the meantime, membership subscriptions are an important part of keeping our club sustainable.
Our session fees help us secure Jubilee Stadium, keep the lights on and the nets up so everyone can keep playing pickleball.
THURSDAY DUPR NIGHT
First Thursday of every month
All players need to register through the Playtime Scheduler.
This helps Nathan know how many players are attending and plan a strong session.
When registering:
Option 1 — DUPR Circle
Choose this if you want to play DUPR-rated games.
Option 2 — Club Night
Choose this for regular club games.
Simple — register, turn up and play! π
GAME & PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Play – Connect – Belong
Keep an eye out for our new player development pathway.
The framework has been intentionally designed around our club values:
PLAY – CONNECT – BELONG
We recognise that everyone joins Rivercity Pickleball for different reasons. Some want social play, some want to improve their skills, and others want to compete.
Our new pathway will eventually be reflected across:
- Coaching programmes
- Member induction
- Competitions
- Club communications
A big thank you to Neihana for the background work on this, supported by the Committee.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED
Our Club Championships originally scheduled for 5 September have officially been moved.
Why the change?
We want to better align the Championships with our annual calendar and developing player pathway, create a great end-of-year showcase with more trophies, and provide opportunities for players across different skill levels.
New Date: To Be Announced
Keep an eye on our club communications for the new date.
WATCH THIS SPACE — COACHING IS COMING!
Looking to level up your game before your next big event?
New skills clinics and coaching sessions are on the way.
We're looking at targeted development opportunities covering:
Beginner • Intermediate • Advanced
Expect drills, skill development and court strategies designed for different stages of your pickleball journey.
Stay tuned for coaching dates!
HOME OF PICKLEBALL — PLAYING OUTSIDE
Exciting progress continues on our outdoor pickleball project!
Approval has been given to proceed with marking the courts, with new equipment to be purchased and windbreakers established.
We're also beginning work on the app-based system, with the goal of making the process nice and simple:
Register → Pay → Turn Up → Play!
Our Open Days are planned for October, and we'll let members know as soon as we have more information about getting onto the new courts.
The August newsletter also featured a photo of players enjoying the outdoor courts — a little preview of what we're working towards!
EQUIPMENT UPDATE
We're currently working through our club equipment.
Some nets are away for repairs, two new nets have been purchased, and we're also working on replacing broken spring buttons on some of the assembly components.
A big thank you to Daniel for helping with this.
Four nets are being stored under the stairs. Please remember to release the tension before storing them and tighten them again once they're back on court.
JUBILEE STADIUM
A massive thank you to all our volunteers who help run our Jubilee Stadium sessions.
A few housekeeping reminders:
Please check the back of the Registration Book for guidance on the number of lights required based on player numbers.
When finishing up, please also check that:
- Toilet lights are switched off
- Lighting-room lights are switched off
- If cricket has already left, their exit door is secure
The last users leaving the facility are responsible for making sure everything is secure.
Thanks for helping us look after our indoor home!
TOURNAMENT NEWS
We've got Rivercity players heading away to tournaments!
Horowhenua — 5 September
And a shout-out to Jay and Neihana, who played in the MΔori Tournament.
GO HARD & ENJOY!
And looking further ahead…
NZ Masters Games 2027
Rivercity Pickleball will host pickleball during the NZ Masters Games from 9–11 February 2027.
Plenty more information to come!
STAY CONNECTED
We send out a club newsletter each month, so if you know a member who hasn't received theirs, ask them to check their spam or junk folder.
We'll also be increasing our use of Facebook and backing this up with information on our website.
Email: rivercitypickleballnz@gmail.com
Facebook: Rivercity Pickleball – Whanganui
Website: rivercitypickleball.co.nz
The August calendar is available through our website, Facebook page and club noticeboard.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
A huge thank you to our members, volunteers, supporters and funding partners who continue to help Rivercity Pickleball grow.
Every session played, membership renewed, net put up and volunteer hour contributed helps us continue building a club where people can:
PLAY – CONNECT – BELONG
See you on court!