And backs Basketball New Zealand's junior basketball programme
BNZ has scored a naming rights partnership with the New Zealand Breakers, in a move that will see the country’s top professional basketball team embark on a new chapter as the BNZ Breakers.
In a statement, the bank said it is also joining forces with Kiwi Hoops, Basketball New Zealand’s junior basketball programme, to help grow the sport at the grassroots level and foster the next generation of talent.
These partnerships follow the bank’s naming rights sponsorship of the BNZ Northern Kāhu women’s basketball team, which was confirmed last month.
“From nurturing young talent in Kiwi Hoops, to bolstering women’s basketball with the Northern Kāhu, and now backing the premier professional team, the BNZ Breakers, our support is generational,” BNZ CEO Dan Huggins (pictured above centre) said.
“Through these partnerships, we want to inspire the next generation and provide resources and opportunities that will help grow the sport, promote physical health, and foster a sense of community. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive ripple effects of these partnerships, from the school playground to the professional court.”
Matt Walsh, majority owner of the Breakers, said the new partnership will enable the team to continue its success on the court and expand its programmes in the community.
“Our captain, Tom Abercrombie, is a shining example of how the Breakers is a pathway for local players to create a career out of basketball,” Walsh said.
Abercrombie “went to school less than four kilometres from our club headquarters on Auckland’s North Shore and has travelled the world playing across the globe,” Walsh said. “Next month, he will play his record 400th game for the Breakers in our opening game of the season against the Cairns Taipans at Spark Arena.”
The BNZ Breakers are actively involved in a range of community outreach initiatives, including their Champions Programme, teaching children aged 5-12 years about goal setting, nutrition, active lifestyles, and basketball fundamentals.
BNZ’s partnership with Kiwi Hoops, whose goal is to introduce the sport to young people, foster a love for the game, and develop skills, will help expand the programme, to engage even more young people across New Zealand, from its current reach of 26,000 kids per year.
Dillon Boucher, CEO of Basketball New Zealand, said partnering with BNZ will expand the team’s reach and impact, providing more opportunities for young Kiwis to engage with basketball.
“This partnership will not only help us grow the sport at the grassroots level, but also build a strong foundation for the future of basketball in New Zealand by developing the next generation of players,” Boucher said.
“At BNZ, we’re committed to growing the social, cultural, and financial wellbeing of New Zealanders, and believe in the power of sport to bring people together and inspire positive change,” Huggins said. “We’re proud to be part of the journey of basketball in New Zealand, and we can’t wait to see where these partnerships take us.”
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