From March 3 – 10, thousands of police and emergency service workers from across Australasia will gather in Rotorua for the Australasian Police and Emergency Services (APES) Games. The event will bring huge excitement to the community as police and emergency service personnel challenge each other in a range of sports.
Not only is the APES Games expected to bring more than 3000 competitors, friends and family to Rotorua, it will deliver a further benefit to the community through its new partnership with youth charity, the Graeme Dingle Foundation.
Graeme Dingle Foundation Rotorua Manager Nicola Smallwood said her local team are excited for such a huge event to be held locally and to be able to connect with the event and those attending.
“We’re excited to have so many manuhiri experience Rotorua through APES and we’re very grateful to all the competitors who donated to support our mahi. They will have an incredible event experience whilst also supporting local tamariki and rangatahi to thrive.”
“Our team will be a part of the opening ceremony and we’ll have a stall where people can engage with us to find out more about how we are supporting young people in our Rotorua community and across Aotearoa.“
The Graeme Dingle Foundation is known for working alongside New Zealand’s tamariki and rangatahi at different life stages, working directly with schools and the community across the motu, from the Far North to Stewart Island.
The Foundation’s programmes – Kiwi Can, Stars, Career Navigator, Project K, Kiwi Tahi and MYND – engage students from ages five to 24 and have been proven to have a direct impact on building resilience to help them overcome life’s obstacles and thrive.
Graeme Dingle Foundation Business Development Manager Stephanie Brown shared the foundations excitement for the APES Games “We are thrilled to have been selected as the games charity partner for APES 2023.” Said Brown
“Not only will our young people benefit greatly, but we have an opportunity to come together with an incredible community of police and emergency services and share our stories… it really is a fantastic opportunity for us” she continued.
“We look forward to meeting all the competitors and public who take part throughout the week.” said Brown.
The event will run from March 3 to 10, and will start with an Opening Ceremony on Friday, March 3 from 3pm.