From HB futsal tournament, to HB Arts Festival announcement, to HB Readers and Writers Festival, to Bremworth bringing back yarn, to Centralines financials, here are some announcements of note you might have missed.
HB scores big with futsal
The popularity of futsal among young players has seen a Hawke’s Bay tournament grow to 70 teams representing twenty-five clubs and schools in just four years.
The 2025 HBF Buzz Electrics Youth Tournament catered for almost 700 players, aged 8-15, who headed to Napier over the July school holidays.
Futsal is the only FIFA and NZ Football-approved version of five-a-side football and is the world’s fastest-growing indoor sport. It is a small-sided (5 v 5) game played with a small (size 3 or 4) low-bounce ball, on a basketball-sized court without rebound walls or nets. The name futsal is derived from the Spanish words futbol (football) and sala (hall).
Tournament director Shelley Bowie said: “2025’s tournament exceeded our expectations, and we are really happy with how it went.”
Hundreds of volunteer hours by HB Futsal went into planning and running the three-day event, in which 215 games across six divisions were played on the nine courts of Rodney Green Arenas in Taradale.
For info on local participation: https://www.hbfutsal.co.nz
HB Arts Festival programme released
October 9 to 19.
Get ready for the high-energy spectacle of Cirque Bon Bon, the return of powerhouse soul singer Deva Mahal, and a bold new dance premiere from New Zealand Dance Company. Discover award-winning theatre (Hysterical, Guru of Chai), immersive jazz cabaret (The Velvet Rebels), intimate music gigs (Fables), visual art, whānau events and more.
Tickets go on sale at 9am, Thursday 31 July
HB Readers & Writers Festival
And for you more literary types.
The 18th annual Hawke’s Bay Readers & Writers Festival, brings you over 20 acclaimed local and national writers. Something for everyone this year – from money matters to indigenous foods; understanding Te Tiriti to mental health inspiration; down-country road trips to against-the-odds success stories; exciting new fiction, including indie authors hitting the high spots; and memoirs from writers who are so well-known they are like old friends.
October 10 to 12. Tickets on sale here.
Napier’s Bremworth back to yarn
Carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is expanding production capacity at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle, marking a key stage in its return to full domestic production of its woollen yarns and a boost to local employment.
Bremworth CEO, Craig Woolford, says the company is investing $6 million in its Hawke’s Bay facility to reinstate key yarn making equipment. The move is designed to ensure greater efficiency, product and quality control and significant lead time improvements, while avoiding excess capacity.
He says they plan to operate three shifts 24 hours a day, every weekday and will hire up to 40 new staff to accommodate expected demand. Key processes, including the site’s dye house and other lines, are already operational. The first stage of the current equipment reinstatement is expected to be operational by the end of August, with a second stage three months later.
Centralines issues glowing Annual Report
Centralines released its 2025 Annual Report, detailing a year of robust performance. Despite the efforts relating to the community’s continued recovery in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Centralines achieved another record year, delivering the largest annual works programme to date.
Centralines Chair, Fenton Wilson commented: “This has been a fantastic year for Centralines. We’ve delivered strong financial results while continuing to invest in the resilience and future of our electricity network for the long-term benefit of the community.”
Centralines delivered robust financial results, with an after-tax operating profit of $3.0 million, marking a $0.3 million increase from FY24. Capital expenditure reached $11.1 million, and consumer discounts amounted to $1.4 million.
Isabelle Crawshaw, Centralines General Manager noted: “The safety and wellbeing of our workforce is our top priority. We are proud to have achieved zero lost-time injuries again this year.”
The full 2025 Annual Report is here.
Announcements you may have missed – Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Napier … Pass the job on to someone who cares about the ratepayers $. Stop justifying your poor decisions to the public. We don’t care for it! Good luck to all running against the current mayor and her cronies.
Yawn another Sideline Karen who isn’t capable and wouldn’t stand let alone put up with all the bollocks elected members do whether we like the decisions made or not