The Waterboy with Lugtons (Te Tamawai Trust)

What a massive year it's been for our Dabble Days. A huge thank you to all the incredible sports clubs who came out to support our tamariki: Northern Districts Cricket Association Hamilton City Netball, Waikato Hockey Association Waikato Badminton Association Waikato Rugby Hamilton Pickleball, Te Aroha Pickleball, Eastside Boxing, Fight Fit Boxing Hamilton, Sacha Skips, Turbo Touch Morrinsville, Flex Fitness Cambridge, Waikato Touch, Volleyball Waikato, and Resolve BJJ Academy. Your dedication to getting more kiwi kids into sport makes all the difference. The mahi you put in with our rangatahi is what makes these days so special. Looking forward to working with you all again in 2025.

Meet Tumai, Chloe and their incredible family of five. When they opened their home and hearts to three more children in 2020, the challenges of supporting multiple kids in sport became very real. That's where our newest sponsor Ripple Podiatry stepped in to help make sport possible for this determined whanau. Welcome to The WaterBoy with Lugtons family, Nick, Kate and the entire Ripple Podiatry team. Your support means more kids getting stuck into the sports they love.

A huge thank you to Asmuss and their ASMUSS Foundation for their incredible support of The WaterBoy with Lugtons. Our Manager Penny and General Manager Natalie had the privilege of touring the ASMUSS Hamilton site to see firsthand the amazing work they do. Thank you for believing in what we do and helping make participation in sport possible for every young New Zealander.

We're incredibly grateful to all the generous individuals and organisations who donated items for our auction at the Clash of the Codes event. From unique sporting experiences to wellness packages and memorabilia - your contributions will directly support young Kiwis in their sporting journeys. Special thanks to: NZIGP Events and NZIGP Legends Club GrainCorp Flex Fitness Hamilton CBD, Sip & Sew Workshops, Morgan Haakma Pilates, Smooth Muse, Ana Johann, Ranger Studio, and Fox Hair Salon Mark Bunting Morgan Haakma at Shreddy NZ Luke Littler and The Framing Workshop Gabrielle Deane & Shayne Johnson at Paradise Gym Tairua Coromandel Ocean Adventures Liam Messam for generously donating his time and Cambridge Golf Course

We recently delivered another successful Dabble Day at Te Aroha Primary School, introducing students to a variety of sports including pickleball, boxing, skipping, and turbo touch. Through these taster sessions, we're breaking down barriers to sports participation and helping young New Zealanders discover activities they might never have tried otherwise. The enthusiasm and engagement from the students demonstrate why these initiatives are so vital for our communities. Special thanks to our local sports providers - Te Aroha Pickleball, Eastside Boxing, Sacha's Skips, and Turbo Touch Morrinsville - for sharing their expertise with our young participants.

A massive thank you to Cairo George and Team George Productions for having us at their Clash of the Codes boxing event over the weekend. Your support in providing us the opportunity to run our auction during the evening will help create more opportunities for Kiwi kids to participate in sport.

After years of getting stuck in and helping hundreds of kiwi kids participate in sport, our founder Thomas Nabbs is hanging up the boots. From starting The WaterBoy with Lugtons with just an idea and a whole lot of determination, to developing life-changing programs like Taku Wairua that have transformed our communities - Tom's impact has been immense. While he might be stepping back from the day-to-day mahi, the culture of caring and community he's built will continue to thrive. The team's got some exciting plans ahead, but today we're taking a moment to say a massive thank you to the big man himself. You're a legend Tom - thanks for showing us all what it means to build stronger people and stronger communities.

We're incredibly grateful to the team at Signature Homes Waikato for their support at their recent lawn bowls Christmas party. The generous donation of sports gear will help us continue our mission of getting more Kiwi kids into sport. Nothing makes our day quite like seeing local businesses come together to support their community. These contributions directly impact our ability to remove barriers and create opportunities for young people to participate in sport. Thank you, Signature Homes Waikato for choosing to support The WaterBoy with Lugtons. Your generosity will help us build stronger people and stronger communities!

From WaterBoy with Lugtons recipient to professional rugby player - Vei's journey is what we're all about. In this video, Vei reflects on her early days with us, when she participated in multiple sports including rugby, touch, and netball. Now, she's achieving her dreams playing professional rugby, regularly taking the field at the stadium she once only dreamed of playing at. Stories like Vei's remind us why we do what we do at WaterBoy with Lugtons - breaking down barriers to sport participation and watching our recipients flourish. Not only is she excelling in her sport, but she's also giving back through our community initiatives.

Where is Vei now? From WaterBoy with Lugtons recipient to professional rugby player, Vei's journey is truly inspiring. During her time with us, Vei participated in rugby, touch, netball, and sevens. Now, she's achieved her goal of being selected for the Waikato FPC team, playing at the stadium she once only dreamed of. Vei credits The WaterBoy with Lugtons for providing opportunities that helped shape her into the athlete she is today. She's grateful for the chance to play multiple sports, which developed her skills and contributed to her current success. We're incredibly proud to have played a small part in Vei's sporting journey and to see her giving back through our Dabble Day events. We can't wait to see what you achieve next on the rugby field. Go hard, Vei!