These achievements are the result of dedication, ongoing learning, and countless hours officiating matches at the local and national level. We commend all seven officials for their contribution to badminton in New Zealand.

"Officiating is often a behind-the-scenes role, but it plays a huge part in delivering a fair and professional experience on court. These new and upgraded umpires represent the future of our technical official workforce - diverse, talented, and committed,” says Alec Huang.

Introducing the New Badminton NZ Umpire Coin

To mark the evolution of our officiating programme, Badminton New Zealand has also introduced a newly designed umpire coin - a small but meaningful symbol of pride for those tasked with leading our sport from the chair.

The new coin reflects the refreshed Badminton New Zealand brand and includes a number of special details:

• A bold new design, with teal and black sides to match our colours
• Our vision and founding year etched into the design
• A larger size for improved use in matches

All qualified umpires will be offered the chance to purchase one new coin at a discounted price of $10, with additional coins available for $15 each.

“This coin is a way to recognise the professionalism and pride our umpires bring to every match. It’s a small but powerful statement about who we are and the standards we set,” adds Huang.

As the badminton calendar continues to grow, so too does the need for capable and confident officials. We look forward to supporting our umpiring community with more development opportunities and resources in the year ahead.