NEW ZEALAND OPEN 2024 & NZ NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS' KARATE COMPETITIONS 2024

We have the honour of inviting you to the 2024 New Zealand Open and the NZ National Secondary Schools' Karate Competitions in Christchurch. 

This event is open to New Zealand Karate-ka and competitors aged 5 years to veterans from other countries.

Date:           Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July 2024

Venue:        Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre, 75 Lyttelton Street, Somerfield, Christchurch 8024

We look forward to seeing you there!

TOURNAMENT PROGRAMME:

Please consult the draw and timetable on the Sportdata website for final times closer to the tournament when competitor numbers are confirmed.

Weigh-In Times: TBC

Provisional Competition Times:

Saturday 6th July:        Starting 9:00 am

Sunday 7th July:           Starting 9:00 am

PAYMENT FOR ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING

A delegate from each club must complete all entries and payments. When paying entry fees by Internet banking, please note that the payment is for the NZ Open. 

Individual competitors do not permit payment; countries and clubs pay as a single combined payment. If required, refunds will be paid back to Countries or Clubs.

TOURNAMENT FEES:

NZ Open - Individual Entry     (Fees for the first individual event as below; plus $5 per additional individual event):

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE IN SPORTDATA VIA YOUR COUNTRY OR CLUB INSTRUCTOR OR DESIGNATED PERSON. Whoever registers the athletes for their club in Sportdata is responsible for informing players, coaches, instructors, parents, and supporters of the Terms and Conditions | Health and Safety | Code of Conduct as written in the disclaimer - this can be seen in the DISCLAIMER. Each club is responsible for making its athletes aware of the contents of the DISCLAIMER.

• All entries, players and coaches, must be entered on Sportdata by 6:00 pm SATURDAY 15th JUNE 2024. NO LATE ENTRIES OR CHANGES TO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED by the Tournament Organising Committee.  This will enable the tournament organisers to plan more effectively and publish the final timetable earlier. If there are insufficient entries in a particular division, then divisions may be combined or not held. 

• All entry fees must be paid as one club payment by 6:00 pm Monday, June 17th, 2024. PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING TO CWKA [Internet Banking Westpac Account: 03 1597 0049767 00]—add your country/ club name with 'NZOPEN-24' in the bank reference.

• International payment details... 
  Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation NZ
  SWIFT/BIC code: WPACNZ2W
  Branch: The Palms
  Account Holder Name: Canterbury/Westland Karate Assn Inc
  Account number: 03 1597 0049767 00
  Street address 1: 20-22 Marshland Road
  Street address 2: Shirley
  City: Christchurch
  Post Code: 8061
  Country: New Zealand

Please note:

• All teams and clubs must register in Sportdata to enter players, coaches, referees and officials.

• For New Zealand athletes, only premier-grade Karate-ka are eligible to compete.

• Athletes and spectators may be photographed or filmed for live web streaming and used on a highlights package (with international viewing options). So anyone attending the venue on Saturday and Sunday may be filmed. By attending, you give consent to potentially being filmed or interviewed.

• Kata and Kumite teams for cadets, juniors and seniors will need to be entered by their country.

• During the bow at the beginning of the tournament, all players must be in Gi or Country/ Club tracksuits and present themselves correctly. 

• Coaches must wear their country/ club tracksuits.

• Coaches will need current photo identification on Sportdata (similar to passport requirement) as photo ID will be on the above certification.

• No unauthorised persons will be allowed on the tatami at any time.

• Registered coaches should be able to practice First Aid and be aware of the signs of concussion  https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/concussion/.

• The Organising Committee reserves the right to withdraw, combine or change Event Categories if and when required up to 48 hours before the Competition Opening; this includes Team Kata events.

• All under-18 and veteran players must present themselves to the Registration Table and register before their competitions. (Kumite players will be weighed) - Registration times will be posted once the timetable is finalised.

• WKF Rules will be applied as this is an Open Grade tournament.

• All entries are final. Ensure all entries are completed correctly, as incorrect age or weight information may result in disqualification from the tournament.

• Coaches/Countries/Clubs, please update your player and coach information in the Sportdata system; athletes get older, heavier/lighter and change grades. (The Sportdata system will only adjust age – not weight or grade).

TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS:

KATA:

WKF Kata 2023 rules will apply with the following modifications:

Individual Kata:

• For Cadet age and older competitors - any approved WKF Kata. No repeats as per WKF rules. Electronically scored Kata events, as per the WKF rules and table below. Please see the 2023 WKF rules for more details.

• For 10 to 13 years aged competitors - any approved WKF Kata. ABAB - may repeat but not in consecutive rounds.

•  Electronically scored Kata events, as per the WKF rules and table below. Please see the 2023 WKF rules for more detail.

NZ National Secondary Schools' Kata competitions

• For U14 and U16 categories, any approved WKF Kata. ABAB - may repeat but not in consecutive rounds.

• For U18 categories, any approved WKF Kata. No Repeats.

Team Kata:

• 10 – 13 Years Old: WKF Kata can be repeated; no bunkai is required.

• 14 – 17 Years Old: (Junior and Cadet) WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively; Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages: 14 - 17 Years Old, inclusive. NB: age band differs from previous NZ tournaments.

• 16 Years plus: WKF Kata is in all rounds; no repetition is permitted. Bunkai is required for medal rounds; Ages 16 - 99 Years Old, inclusive.

• Must be completed within 5 minutes, including Bunkai.

NB: Competitors must announce the name of the Kata they will be performing before they start performing the Kata. They must also bow inside the competition area before starting and after completing the Kata. The competitor will be disqualified for failing to do so.

KUMITE:

• Depending on numbers, all Kumite divisions could be split into weight categories, so please ensure your player's weight is correctly entered on Sportdata; otherwise, you may be disqualified from competing (non-WKF weight grades may differentiate weight grades).

• WKF points, warning, and penalty systems will be used for all Kumite Events.

• For ages 14 and over, the WKF rules will apply.

Kumite Bout Duration for Male and Female:

• 10 – 17 years old - 2.0 minutes (as per WKF rules)

• 18 years and older (U’21 and Senior) - 3.0 minutes (as per WKF Rules)

• Veteran divisions (35 YO and above) - 2.0 minutes

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

All competitors (Kumite and Kata) must wear a clean white Gi in good condition. 

• Premier competitors must follow the WKF rules, i.e. white karate gi without stripes, piping, or personal embroidery.

• ALL KUMITE COMPETITORS MUST WEAR Mouthguards, Body protectors (protection), Red and Blue belts, and Red and Blue hand mitts (matching their competing belts). Foot protectors must match the belt colour.

• All equipment should be approved by KNZ, Oceania, or WKF. The referees will give final approval.

• All male Kumite competitors must wear a groin protector.

• Female Kumite 14-year-olds & above – advised to wear approved chest protectors (breast protectors) underneath the body protector.

• Safety is our top priority in this tournament. Article 2 of the WKF Kumite Rules clearly states that for competitors under 14 years of age, the use of KNZ approved Helmet and External Chest Protector is compulsory. We urge all participants and their families to take head protection seriously and prioritise athlete safety.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: 

This is to remind the competitors, coaches, supporters, the public, and event workers that if you are unwell, DO NOT ATTEND.

As part of Health and Safety, we need to be sure that player weights for Kumite are correct. Therefore, check that player weights for Kumite are accurate on Club information in Sportdata.

Incorrect weight category entered could result in disqualification from that particular event - no refund!