NORTHLAND SENIORS TENNIS NEWS - AUGUST 2025

NEW ZEALAND TEAMS EVENT 2027 – NORTHLAND – EASTER 26-28 MARCH 2027

If you are a tennis player or enjoy watching tennis in Northland, you need to be involved in this event.

You can play, organise at a club, help out with social events or organise some sponsorship. As an incentive, members who join our Northland Seniors club by October 30, 2026 will receive a playing shirt for the event free of charge.

Northland clubs have already offered their courts for the event. Around 40 courts are needed for around 700 players. There is opportunity for clubs to make some funds through court hire and selling food. There needs to be a club member willing to run the event over 3 days at the club with NZ guidance. Draws and playing rules are laid down by NZ so it’s a matter of following them. There are 2 teams of 4 players on each court so a four court venue would have 32+ players in attendance plus maybe a couple of reserve players/supporters.

We will need a coordinator for Thomas Neale. This will be a big job with 12 courts to manage and around 100 players.

Many helpers will be needed at the social functions. Some of these people might not play so could be from all sorts of places in our tennis community. A club or two might like to take things on? Talk about how your club can be involved.

Meet and Greet – Thursday 25 March. Venue needed as well as food/drink and costings. Players attending pay a fee. Around 150 attended this event in Tauranga this year. Kamo Club has been used in the past. Thomas Neale is probably big enough as well.

Prizegiving Dinner. (March 28, 2027) In Tauranga 2025, 360 people attended a sit down dinner. We have booked the Kensington Stadium but obviously there is a bit more to it than that. Caterers, Bands, drinks, ticket selling, bar licences, dress up theme to name a few. Who out there loves doing this kind of stuff? Is there a group who might like to do this?

Applications for funding from the WDC and sponsorship will be needed. Maybe we have an expert at this. Obviously we have to be careful to work with National sponsors and Tennis Northland's current sponsors.

Ordering of shirts for Northland players.

We have Brittany and Cheryl on board ready to support our plans but we do not want tasks left to one or two people hence the call for people to get involved.

It would be great if you let me know how you can help by return email by August 31. Once we have some volunteers we will meet as an Events committee to get things started.

Remember many hands make light work!

Proposed timeline

May 2025 – Apply to NZ (Social venue already booked)

July 2025 – Approval given to hold event by NZ

September2025 – Events committee formed and jobs delegated

November 2025 – Main prize giving dinner fleshed out with venue, caterers, drink licences etc in hand

February 2026 – Events committee meets to look at progress and next steps

October 2026 – Northland Seniors sign up for 2027 season and receive shirts once sizing and printing done

March 2027 – National teams event based in Whangarei

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Tennis,

Paul Ramsay (paulr54@yahoo.co.uk or 0274416542)