Altus opens a window on women’s rugby in Aotearoa

Altus opens a window on women’s rugby in Aotearoa and signs on as foundation partner for Women in Rugby Aotearoa (WIRA).

An incredible team of hundreds of women’s rugby fans who have come together to advocate for the game, has now been joined by Altus, our first financial partner.

Altus Industrial Aluminium and Window Systems is a leading New Zealand manufacturer and exporter of innovative designs in aluminium extrusions and extrusion-based building systems.  The Industrial business provides solutions for customers across a wide range of aluminium products.  Altus has a vision to better the lives of New Zealanders: through their innovative product systems helping to make homes warmer, dryer and healthier, by supporting and encouraging learning and personal growth in their employees, and by working closely with business partners and suppliers to create positive outcomes where all can succeed.

Their leadership acknowledges the contribution wāhine make to Aotearoa’s game, and with Women in Rugby Aotearoa (WIRA) will help shine a light on the players, fans, volunteers, leaders and communicators who work so hard to promote and grow the game we love,”

says Traci Houpapa, MNZM JP, a Director of Chiefs Rugby and a founding member of WIRA.

WIRA is a not-for-profit grassroots movement; a collective of current and former players, administrators, managers, coaches, directors and volunteers involved in rugby. WIRA is 100% about growing the game by ensuring all women, of all ages from all over Aotearoa, have a positive experience in the sport, on and off the field.

Houpapa says,

“To be successful we need the support of companies like Altus to help us increase women’s engagement in Rugby in Aotearoa in playing, coaching, refereeing (and other officials), administration and governing roles. Altus’ significant contribution over three years will help us extend our outreach to the rugby community, develop toolkits for schools and clubs and to create excitement for women’s rugby, from grassroots to World Cups. Altus sit alongside another foundation partner, Tompkins Wake, who have helped establish WIRA as a not-for-profit entity.”

The pathway for wāhine in rugby is now even more rewarding in every sense with the recent launch of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki, enabling Farah Palmer Cup players to better chart their path upwards to the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens. But, it all starts in clubs and schools around the motu.

Ron Holden, Managing Director Altus NZ Limited says of the partnership,

“We’re so excited to announce our partnership with WIRA. Rugby is a game we all love and the women’s game is the fastest growing part of rugby in Aotearoa. We admire the work WIRA does to open a window on every aspect of the women’s game from the incredible volunteers who turn up in all weathers on the sideline and in clubrooms, to international stars on the field. Our contribution is always one part of someone else’s whole and that whole makes lives better and communities stronger.

“Our motto is 'Success is better shared' and through our partnership I know our team is looking forward to hearing from WIRA members and players to inspire them in their work and personal lives. As a traditionally male-dominated company we’re also relishing the prospect of learning from the amazing wāhine and tāne involved in WIRA about how they support women in their sport and in their workplaces, as well as working with them to provide employment pathways for athletes and rugby fans in our businesses.”

The partnership starts now on International Women’s Day but kicks off officially on July 1, 2022 for three years.

Holden says,

“It is only by increasing support at every level of the game that we will grow and develop women’s rugby, which I only discovered recently, has been played here since 1888. I know the women in Altus will appreciate this investment and the work going in behind the scenes to really make this partnership work for us all. We’re looking forward to see how we can accelerate the women’s game with WIRA and their network.”