All abilities whānau day
There will be opportunities to try out powerchair football with members of the Dunedin PFC Dragons or hungerball with Hungerball Otago.
Email zoe@halberg.co.nz for details and registration.
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Otago Daily Times
13-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Bungard's NZ dream comes true
Laura Bungard has always dreamed of representing New Zealand. The competitive swimmer turned long-distance runner told the Otago Daily Times as much during her Class Act interview in 2019. "It'd be cool to represent the silver fern. I'm taking it season by season, trying to keep on improving and see where it takes me," the then Taieri College prefect said. Turning that dream into a reality as she prepares for the world mountain and trail running championships was somewhat of a full-circle moment when she caught up with the newspaper again recently. "For it to be happening six years later, it's a dream come true. "I'm super excited about it ... but also scary, because, you know, I've not raced on the world stage before." The 24-year-old is heading to Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, next month to race in the senior women's short trail distance. She booked her spot after finishing fifth at the Three Peaks plus one race in Dunedin earlier this year — but it has taken a lot of hard work to get there. Bungard grew up as a competitive swimmer, winning silver medals in the 100m individual medley and the 200m breaststroke at the New Zealand division two championships. Then she was roped in to run for the school cross-country team and immediately caught the running bug. Having a strong sporting background prepared Bungard to take the leap. She walked away from swimming, poured her all into running and started taking it seriously in 2021 when she competed in local 10km races and half-marathons. She moved into ultramarathons, and being part of Leith Harriers stretched her further, including when she ran the last 30km of the Kepler Challenge in 2024 alongside clubmate Kristy Eyles, which pushed Bungard to a big personal best. Ultramarathons are the ultimate test of endurance and one Bungard fully embraced. "I just like being able to push myself and find where my limit is. "You definitely go to some dark places when you're running for over five hours kind of thing. "I just like the challenge of being able to overcome the mental and physical barriers that come with it." She has a good sounding board in her corner in coach and former Otago triathlete Tony Dodds, who competed at the Rio Olympics and Glasgow and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Bungard first crossed paths with Dodds at Moana Pool when he was coaching triathletes while she was swimming, and when she started to take running seriously, she reached out to him. "He's been incredible. If it wasn't for him, I definitely wouldn't be in the position where I am now," Bungard said. "He just knows how to push me to the right point without overdoing it and definitely understands me as an athlete, which makes it so much easier for trainings." Bungard, who has been well supported by the community, is pounding the pavement, training for up to 120km a week. That includes speed sessions with Leith president Chris Sole's running group, running after work — "which is always hard in the Dunedin winter" — and getting out into the hills on her own, or with the Leith Lasses, for four hours at the weekend. All that training is juggled around her career as a medical scientist in histology at Awanui Labs. "That's pretty full on ... but I love it — awesome field to be a part of." Bungard joins a strong southern contingent destined for Spain. Queenstown's Katie Morgan will race in the short course alongside Bungard, and Ryan Carr (Queenstown), Dwight Grieve (Fiordland) and Jack Harris (Hill City-University) will line up for the men's short course. National champion Juliet Chamberlain, who is now in Dunedin, will race in the senior women's long trail, Sarah Douglas, of Queenstown, will race in the senior women's uphill mountain running and Luca Huia (Hill City) will race in the junior men's under-20 mountain run.
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
All abilities whānau day
The Halberg Foundation and Parafed Otago are holding an All Abilities Dunedin Whānau Day on Sunday, from 1pm to 3pm at Taieri College. There will be opportunities to try out powerchair football with members of the Dunedin PFC Dragons or hungerball with Hungerball Otago. Email zoe@ for details and registration.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- NZ Herald
On the Up: Halberg Foundation launch ‘Make Play Possible' to help kids with disabilities play sport
But the costs are making it more difficult for people to participate, and Halberg Foundation chief executive Tom Smith is desperate to change that. ' Sir Murray said that everyone should have the opportunity to play sport,' said Smith. 'We're still failing them because there's still thousands of young people out there that just aren't getting the opportunity to participate in sport. 'If you're not actively participating in sport or you're not part of a team or a group of people, you're going to lack self-confidence. These opportunities that people miss in sport, they lead to lack of ... opportunities in life.' Isabel Venter is an example of a child who has benefited from the Halberg Activity Fund grant. She was born with an upper limb difference and, with the support of Halberg, she managed to participate in the Games and start riding lessons. 'I really like being around the horses,' said Isabel. 'It makes me feel happy, calm and relaxed. When I first started I was quite weak and couldn't do everything I wanted to, but I'm getting stronger. 'I really enjoyed Halberg Games because I could compete with other people with the same limb difference as me. 'My favourite part was the rock climbing because it exercises both of my arms. I loved the experience, and I hope I can go again.' Despite all that, Smith is pleased to see the number of kids benefiting from taking part in events like the Halberg Games, which is proving to be a stepping stone to further success. He highlights the success of wheelchair racers Jaden Movold and Sarah James, who have benefited from participating. 'It's also about the kids coming to the Halberg Games for the very first time,' said Smith. 'These are children who often aren't picked for Aims Games or rep teams. They're the ones left behind in class when their peers get to put on the Auckland Blues jersey or the green of Manawatu. 'They're left out, and for them, the Halberg Games might be the first time they're away from home without their parents. 'It could be the first time they're managing their own medication, and it becomes a real coming-of-age experience. 'I always say to people that we talk about creating moments of joy, but the finish line at the Halberg Games is just this amazing place of humanity.'
