ISPS Handa to join BMW as co-naming rights partner for 2016 New Zealand Open Golf Championship

The New Zealand Open has secured a new major funding partner, with Japan-based non-profit corporation ISPS Handa joining BMW as co-naming rights partner for what will become the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open.
 
Both BMW and ISPS Handa have invested significantly in golf events around the world, and the New Zealand Open is fortunate to have the experience, expertise and enthusiasm of these two major golf partners in supporting its 2016 event.
   
BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open Organising Committee Chairman John Hart expressed his delight at the formation of this unique partnership.
 
“It’s never easy creating an event of this magnitude in a market as relatively small as New Zealand. We’re very proud of the growth we’ve achieved over the past four years, and this new partnership will undoubtedly assist us in moving forward.
 
“This addition to our family of sponsors and supporters further illustrates the impact the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open is having on the Japanese market, in particular.
 
“Our event has forged a close relationship with the Japan Golf Tour, and today’s announcement is further testament to the impact we’re having on the bigger picture Japan-New Zealand relationship. 
 
“For 2016 we now not only have a co-naming rights Japan-based partner, we also have continued support from other Japanese corporates like Oji Holdings, Sumitomo Forestry and JTB.
 
“The amount invested by all Japanese stakeholders in the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open has now reached a level that’s really significant.
 
“BMW is an iconic brand at the forefront of golf throughout the world, and we’re particularly indebted to the BMW New Zealand team who have embraced this new partnership.
 
“Like BMW, ISPS Handa is an organization with a strong global golfing pedigree. Dr Haruhisa Handa has a passion to support blind and disabled golf, and we’re thrilled to have such a philanthropic and generous partner alongside the good people at BMW.”
 
BMW Group New Zealand Managing Director Florian Renndorfer welcomed ISPS Handa to the tournament, adding that he too was really pleased to have another major golfing partner involved in the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open.
 
“BMW Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of premium vehicles and has a long and proud heritage of supporting premier golf events.
 
“BMW has been involved with golf in New Zealand for almost twenty-five years and have found our involvement in the sport, especially partnering in a prestigious event such as the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open, is an ideal environment to promote BMW’s key strengths of precision, dynamism, sportsmanship and being the Ultimate Driving Machine.”
 
Speaking on behalf of ISPS Handa, Executive Director Midori Miyazaki said ISPS is excited to partner with BMW to help grow the tournament to a new level. 
 
“We are looking forward to working alongside BMW in bringing this unique event to the world. We are particularly supportive of the linkages that the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open furthers between New Zealand and Japan. 
 
“We are eager to see ‘the power of sport’ and the values it espouses enhance the strong relationship between our two nations.”
 
The BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open is a one-million dollar Tier One event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour. The 2016 event will be played from March 10 to March 13 at two iconic Queenstown courses, The Hills and Millbrook.