Rockit Support Helps Hastings Boxing Club Punch Higher

Innovative New Zealand apple brand, Rockit – famous for its snack-sized apples that pack a powerful punch of natural energy and nutrients – has struck a partnership with local boxing academy, Hastings Giants, as both parties Ready. Set. Rockit. into their strongest year yet.

Rockit’s support will help fund the academy’s move to their new home – a bigger and better premises within Mitre 10 Park, Hawke’s Bay – where it will continue its life changing work with young people.

Founder Craig McDougall, who set up the academy in 2015, says Giants – a subsidiary of the Hawke’s Bay Youth Trust – isn’t just about boxing, it’s a tool to help youth develop excellence in all areas of life. From conditioning to mentoring to performing, the academy specialises in helping young people achieve, working with 300-500 people a year, including its school programmes. “We aim to use sport and fitness as a vehicle to foster a sense of belonging,” says Craig. “We’ve found through Giants we can create connections with young people, teaching them discipline and respect and helping them to become active and responsible members of the community.”

Craig says he’s very grateful for Rockit’s sponsorship, now into its second year. He says moving from Eastbourne Street in Hastings to Mitre 10 Park will help cement the academy’s place within a sporting community focused on growing grassroots sports as a way of building relationships. “Our mission is to help young people and their whanau live lives they value,” says Craig. “Boxing is just the invitation through which we are able to help write a foundational chapter in the lives of these young people.”

He says once they’re interested in the boxing aspect of what the academy offers, conversations can flow. “Kids just want a safe place to hang out. Once they come here, we can then start teaching them about wider life skills – about fitness, manners and how to be active, responsible members of the community. We help give them the tools and the bravery to write their own chapters.”

With bravery a key brand value of Rockit Global Limited, the team at the snack-sized apple company – that is taking on the world one small bite at a time – had no hesitation in pledging support for the Academy.

General Manager Global Marketing, Julian Smith says Rockit couldn’t be prouder to give back to its local community through Giants Boxing. “It is such an amazing organisation,” he begins. “The ethos is a perfect match to our own Rockit values – it’s family-oriented, promotes health and wellbeing and encourages participation, progress and reaching for more.

“It also has great alignment with our company-wide marketing campaign, Ready. Set. Rockit. which encourages people to push their limits and to go further than they’ve ever gone before. We are excited to be working with Craig and his team and can’t wait to deepen the partnership as we Ready. Set. Rockit. into 2023 together!”

It’s an arrangement that works perfectly for Craig, too. “We’re delighted to be working with Rockit to help achieve our goals,” he says. “This is a wonderful local brand doing awesome things internationally and at home, and from a values perspective their messaging sits really well with us. We look forward to bedding in this relationship further for our local people.”

-ENDS-