Tauranga Morning Badminton serves up fitness and friendship

When the members of Tauranga Morning Badminton get together twice a week, it’s not just about the sport itself, it’s also about the people it brings together.

From seasoned players to curious first timers, from teenagers to those aged in their 90s, the courts at The University of Waikato Haumaru Sport & Recreation Centre have become a hub for this diverse cross-section of the community to gather together and get active.

And, with membership growing, it’s obvious badminton isn’t just a game for this group, it’s a way to stay young, stay social, and stay fit.

The club meets at Haumaru every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am until 12pm, with an equal measure of competition and camaraderie on display.

According to club president Dale Hobson, badminton is a sport that gives back as much as you put in. What begins as a tentative first swing for many newcomers quickly transforms into a regular fix of fitness, focus, and friendly rivalry. 

“Badminton’s quite addictive,” Dale says. 

“You can get quite fit playing badminton, especially if you've got a really competitive game and you're going hard out. It’s great.”

For Dale and many others, Tauranga Morning Badminton provides a space to connect, to challenge the mind, and to stay engaged.

“I think badminton’s a special sport. It's the mental stimulation ... the hand-eye coordination is good for brain power. For me it’s keeping myself active, it gives me something to do during the day,” Dale says.  

“We appeal to a cross-section of the community. We have different ethnicities, different ages, different sexes. Probably the youngest player would be in their teens to one player would probably be in their 90s, so a very wide cross-section,” he says. 

“I think that badminton is a sport that caters to anyone.” 

The social benefits of being in the club is one of the main factors that has kept players like 64-year-old Wanchai Srisangwan coming back for nearly a decade now.

He says he enjoys the community aspect and at his age, “the best activity is badminton”. 

Lucas Hobson, Dale’s son, is only 14 but is often at Tauranga Morning Badminton during the school holidays. 

“Normally I’m at home on my devices, not doing much, but badminton is a way for me to get out, socialise, and do something active,” Lucas says. 

“I enjoy being able to win, obviously; I like the competitive side. I also like being able to be with other people,” he says.

He would love to see more young people join the club. 

“Just go along, see how you like it and go from there,” Lucas says.  

Dale says in recent weeks the club has seen a good number of new players turn up and he is encouraging others to “come along here and keep fit and keep social and do something which is really enjoyable”. 

“It's great to see some new faces coming in.”

Another bonus for Tauranga Morning Badminton is the facilities available at The University of Waikato Haumaru Sport & Recreation Centre, the city's newest community indoor sport facility and the first to open in over a decade.

Haumaru, which opened last year at 483 Cameron Rd in central Tauranga, is managed by Bay Venues on behalf of Tauranga City Council and will soon reach its one-year milestone in May. To celebrate, the community is being invited to a family fun day on May 23, with more details to be released soon.

The former site of The Warehouse was converted into a multi-purpose sport and recreation centre featuring indoor sports courts and plenty of parking and is home to a wide range of community sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, netball, and more.

The Haumaru project won a Merit Award at the 2025 Recreation Aotearoa Awards.

“We've got a fantastic option here, got nice change rooms, got all the toilet facilities. I'm giving it a big thumbs up for me,” Dale says.

To get in touch with the club, visit the Tauranga Morning Badminton page on Facebook.