Opportunities

The Auckland Blind & Low Vision Tennis Open 2026 is a major milestone for blind and low vision tennis in New Zealand. It is the first International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) sanctioned tournament to be held in New Zealand and has been approved as an IBTA Tier 5 event.

The tournament will take place on 14-15 November 2026 at Albany Tennis Centre, Auckland, and is open to both New Zealand and international players. NZ competitors can earn IBTA ranking points while taking part in singles and doubles events across B1 to B4 classifications. International players will need to check their eligibity for points according to IBTA guidance on eligible tournament points per year. 

Blind Sport NZ is supporting New Zealand players with the classification process and encourages anyone interested in competing to get involved.

Enter via the Tennis New Zealand Blind & Low Vision Tennis page.

Find classification information and the Medical Diagnostic Form (MDF) on the Blind Sport NZ Classification page.

The last Blind Sport NZ Emerging Athlete Weekend took place in Christchurch from 21–23 August 2026 and provided an opportunity for people aged 13 and over with a vision impairment, from any sporting background, to experience sport testing, access classification, and participate in information sessions. Expressions of Interest helped shape the 2026 group and provided valuable insight into future athlete development opportunities across Aotearoa.

Want to hear about future opportunities?If you are interested in taking part in similar events, athlete development programmes, classification opportunities, or future talent identification initiatives, we encourage you to become an Individual Member of Blind Sport NZ.

Membership is a simple way for us to keep in touch with people interested in blind sport and ensure you hear about relevant opportunities as they become available. It also helps us understand the demand for pathways into classification and competitive sport, so we can continue developing programmes and connections for athletes across Aotearoa.

👉 Contact Chelsea (022 599 3961) if you would like assistance with membership, accessibility information, or to discuss future athlete opportunities.

Auckland will host the 14th International Blind Bowlers Association (IBBA) World Championships from 13 to 29 January 2027, welcoming athletes from around the world to compete in blind and vision-impaired lawn bowls.
For more information about the championships click here.

New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowls (NZBLBA), a member organisation of Blind Sport NZ, and contacting them is a great starting point. You can connect with them via their website, Facebook page, or by email. Bowls New Zealand also provides a range of great information on their website and socials.