July 11, 2022
2022 sees the return of the prestigious Pirtek Volunteer of the Month award, where our rugby league community gets a chance to see their hard mahi recognised across the motu. This award is gifted to a volunteer who displays the core values of NZRL’s Kiwi Way: being family first, innovative, inclusive, respectful, respectful and humble. We are excited to announce that the first winner in 2022 and the month of June is Gina Allan.
Gina has been a pillar for women’s rugby league in Northland over the years. Allan has no playing experience, but her determination and passion for seeing the game grow in Northland is unmatched. Her impact is seen as the number of participants in the New Zealand Māori Rugby League (NZMRL) tournaments for her club Nga Puhi Ahi, increases yearly.
Gina’s rugby league journey started with NZMRL tournaments but has now expanded her reach, creating opportunities for our rangatahi both in and out of Northland. Allan found a rugby league home with the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, which enabled girls to play regularly in junior grades over the last two years. This meant accommodating the girls; whether they had to leave Whangarei around 5 am to make 10 am games or taking girls to trials in Auckland, Gina would make an effort without hesitation.
Gina’s work never goes unnoticed; from organising fundraisers to sorting equipment, Gina is a crucial figure in Northland Rugby League.
Pirtek CEO Chris Bourke commented on the winner, “Gina Allan is an amazing nomination for the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month and the well-deserved winner.”
“Without any rugby league experience, Gina has created a club that she founded back in 2018, allowing young Māori women to participate and thrive while also committing to Hibiscus Coast Raiders.”
“People like Gina are imperative to the ongoing success and development of women’s rugby league in New Zealand, and we commend her for her contribution to the game.”
Congratulations Gina!
February 9, 2022
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is proud to announce key partner and principal sponsor of the Kiwis, Pirtek, has extended its partnership with NZRL for another four years.
A market leader in the provision of on-site hydraulic and industrial hose and fitting products and services, Pirtek’s partnership with NZRL is set to span well over a decade, with Pirtek being one of the most recognisable supporters of rugby league across the Tasman.
This extension means Pirtek will have been principal sponsors of the Kiwis through five World Cup tournaments, including this year’s rescheduled World Cup in England and the 2025 France Rugby League World Cup.
NZRL CEO Greg Peters says this partnership extension is a special milestone.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been no international rugby league for over two years, yet Pirtek’s support for our Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns has never wavered.
“Despite Covid disrupted seasons, Pirtek’s franchise network has provided invaluable support for our grassroots and inaugural women’s and 20’s competitions, coupled with the involvement in our community activations across the country to encourage more tamariki to get involved in rugby league.
“Our partnership is special. The entire team at Pirtek have been loyal members of our NZRL whānau for well over a decade. They have been front and centre of our greatest international achievements and have shown invaluable support throughout our more challenging times,” Peters adds.
“I look forward to the team at Pirtek remaining integral members of the NZRL whānau as we enter an exciting new era of rugby league.”
Chris Bourke, CEO Pirtek, says, “Once again our national Pirtek team is excited about our re-signing as Principal Sponsor of NZRL. We, like all Rugby League fans, are looking forward to the return of international matches in 2022 and beyond.
Although the past couple of years have been a challenge for all concerned we have worked closely with NZRL and their team to provide appropriate support where practical.
Sponsorships and partnerships like ours involve loyalty, just like we appreciate from our long term customers throughout New Zealand.
We all look forward to working closely with NZRL over the next term of our partnership”.
Ngariri Nuku Lee Waitokia from Eastern Eagles Rugby League club down in Christchurch has been recognised as a standout volunteer as part of Pirteks’ – Communities through Covid initiative.
Nuku is an invaluable volunteer of the Eastern Eagles rugby league club and a woman of many roles from team manager to committee member to Club Secretary. However, it is her most recent work during this time of uncertainty which deserves some special recognition.
The harsh unemployment realities of a country in lockdown due to Covid-19 were fast approaching, and it was clear the vulnerable families in lower-income areas would be impacted the most.
So Nuku along with the newly appointed Club President (Zion Taumiti) created a Covid-19 response team made up of coaches and managers from across the club. They created a survey for each player and their families asking what their situation and main concerns were during this time.
Nuku took on the responsibility of ensuring all the administration was complete concerning the club survey. She ensured every single player and their family members were included in a database and that their needs were categorised accordingly to allow the club to act efficiently with goods, services and support.
The database totalled 60 families with as least five or more in each family from infant to elderly, about three-quarters of those who responded to the club’s survey said they needed more food and were feeling isolated.
Without her organisation, the club would not have been in a position to do the important family drops that covered all areas of Christchurch. Eastern Eagles rugby league club distributed family packages to about 30 families over 30 over Easter, which included colouring in sets and easter eggs.
“This is what Pirtek loves about Rugby League and the Rugby League community. There are always people that will go out of their way to help others, people that take a selfless approach to life in general,” says Pirtek General Manager Chris Bourke.
“In times like these, its great people like Nuku, along with Zion and the Eastern Eagles Rugby League Club, that stand out to support the community and do this without the expectation of recognition. They are simply there to help others in the Rugby League family and beyond.
“Nuku is a well deserved recipient of the Pirtek Communities Through COVID Award. Congratulations.”
Nominate someone you feel deserves some recognition here – https://nzrl.co.nz/community/ourcommunitiesthroughcovid/
Each person nominated will go in the draw to win a Kiwis merchandise prize package. NZRL in liaison with Pirtek will promote some of the best nominations on NZRL channels.
Thanks to Pirtek, each month we look to celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to Rugby League and their community. This month, we congratulate Pam Haua from the Randwick Kingfishers for being our August Volunteer of the Month.
Pam is the Junior delegate for the Randwick Kingfishers and is considered the “face of the small junior committee”. She is the junior coaches’ and managers’ go-to person when it comes to anything they need assistance with. Pam’s contribution is key to the success of the Junior club’s registrations, tournaments and prize giving.
Prior to the 2019 season starting, Pam started collecting registrations and even had a table set up for Junior registrations at a local Naenae community event, she also went out of her way to collect registrations in Taita – showing her dedication to the growth of the game and club in her community.
During the season, the Randwick Kingfishers hosted juniors one Saturday – Pam and her husband wore bright bibs and were out on the field helping teams, ensuring that everyone was aware of the time they were playing and where they were needed to be. This is not an easy job for two people, with five different age groups playing at one venue over one day. The club received comments from other clubs who mentioned that it was a well hosted day.
Pam was responsible for hosting the entire Junior prize-giving night and kept all teams well informed on the details of the event. She also kept all the volunteers in the loop right from the start of the season up until the final event.
“You can tell she is someone who knows what needs to happen in the background to have things run smoothly. Pam also knows what’s required for things to be made easy for coaches, managers and families in order for our kids to get out there and play the game we all love,” said Peggy, nominator.
Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek, said: “Pam certainly covers a multitude of roles (along with husband Kevin), and demonstrates the true character of a volunteer. Maintaining that sort of commitment to the game we love shows the valued integrity and work ethic that Pam displays and that is why she deserves to be the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.”
Nominations are now open for Pirtek’s September Volunteer of the Month.
Each winner receives $200 worth of vouchers.
#TheKiwiWay #MoreThanAGame
Thanks to Pirtek, each month we look to celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to Rugby League and their community. This month, we congratulate Anaru Paul from Hamilton City Tigers, for being our June Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.
Anaru’s leadership has seen rugby league in the Waikato thrive. Anaru has held the managers’ position at Hamilton City Tigers for over five years and played a crucial role in winning two Waikato Grand Finals. He’s also been the Waikato Men’s Premier manager for the last three years, which as a result, has seen the District promoted from the Championship to the Premiership competition in 2016, reach the Grand Final in 2017 and retain their spot in the 2019 Premier Competition with a win against Northland in 2018.
Anaru intended on stepping down from club responsibilities at the end of 2018 to focus his efforts on Waikato. With many people unavailable to fill the role, Anaru has stayed with the club, albeit unofficial to his wife!
Anaru’s dedication to his community extends well beyond his involvement with the Tigers. With Resthills being the main playing venue for most of the Hamilton-based clubs; Hukanui, College Old Boys, Hamilton Hornets and Hamilton City Tigers, there are often six or more teams playing on just two fields every Saturday.
When the players from all clubs arrive on a Saturday to see the goalposts up and the lines on the field drawn, they have Anaru to thank. Fourteen days and nights he commits himself to the club, district and game (Premiers), not including the hours he’s involved with the Youth grades.
Anaru’s dedication to his community and the great game of rugby league has not gone unnoticed, and as a result, there are now generations of Paul’s at the club with all his boys having played for Tigers Premiers, some for Waikato, and now Grandkids wearing the club colours.
“He is a true gentleman and an incredibly humble man who puts everyone involved in the game before himself.” David McMeeken, nominator.
Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek says “It’s people like Anaru that keep the grassroots game thriving and it’s clear the impact of his leadership is felt far and wide. On behalf of the team at Pirtek, we’d like to thank Anaru for his dedication to the game and congratulate him on being our well-deserved June volunteer of the month.”
Nominations are now open for Pirtek’s July Volunteer of the Month.
