Lights, Racquet, Action: Tahunanui Tennis Club Serves Up a Brighter Future!

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded Tahunanui Tennis Club (TTC) a $45,000 grant to install a new lighting system for its courts, enabling the club to host evening and winter tennis and grow participation, securing its future as a year-round community facility.

Club President Colin Harrop says, “Our club is one of the last in the region not to have lights, so this generous grant from NZCT is a real game changer for us. It will significantly enhance levels of accessibility, participation, and community engagement since we’ll now be able to hold more competitions, attract players from across the larger region, and introduce new members to our club.”

Tennis is now played year-round, with winter competitions and social tennis commonly held on weekday evenings. Until now, Tahunanui Tennis Club was unable to host many home games during the Nelson Bays Interclub season, played Monday to Thursday evenings from October to April, due to insufficient natural light. As a result, the club had to lease courts from other clubs, creating additional costs, scheduling challenges, congestion for host clubs, and extra travel for members.

The new lighting will also allow the club’s coach to extend her hours into the evenings, supporting junior development, attracting new players, and enabling winter club nights where members and the public can connect in a relaxed, social setting.

Geoff Nalder, Senior Interclub Member says, “Playing Interclub games at home instead of playing at other clubs will be great.”

Craig Welsh, Senior Member adds, ” Looking forward to playing tennis after work in winter.”

Inor Oehler, Junior Member says “Having lights would extend time during winter days to practice longer after school, and stay active”

NZCT’s General Manager of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges says, “This is a really practical upgrade that makes a big difference. Good lighting means people can fit sport into their lives after work, in winter as well as summer, and that helps clubs like Tahunanui stay active, welcoming, and sustainable. NZCT can fund this community good thanks to the fundraising partnership we share with Ocean Lodge via their host responsible gaming lounge.