About Naenae

The Naenae Youth Charitable Trust, a registered charity, was formed in late 2006 for the purpose of helping to fund the activities of the Naenae Boxing Academy.

 A strategic youth facility, the Academy was established in Treadwell Street, Naenae in January 2006 by the internationally renowned Kiwi guest speaker Billy Graham.  The fulfillment of his life-long dream, the Academy operates to assist local youth through its programmes.

 Managed and governed by the Trust, the main activities of the Academy are teaching youth life-skills through participation in and the discipline of boxing and physical fitness.  The Academy has set high standards and aims to be a world-class youth facility coaching in life standards.  The Academy teaches the scientific side of the art of self-defense.

Billy Graham - “To make a difference in young people’s lives and to give them a place of refuge. Dick Dunn, my boxing coach made me feel secure; he gave me one-on-one time, there was no alcohol or cigarettes on his breath and he never used bad language – these three things were completely different from what I was used to, from my dysfunctional home environment. Mr Dunn made me feel special which is very important for boys at a young age. I did everything I could to impress him. I trained as hard as I could and believed I would be a champion one day because Mr Dunn said I could be. Tuesday and Thursday nights were the worst nights because there was no training. Most weekends we were away boxing somewhere.

My life was exercising in the gym, running the hills and competing. The discipline I have learnt in my 20 years in the boxing ring gave me the confidence and assurance that I could succeed in any area I worked hard at. I have had a full and exciting life and wouldn’t trade it for anything. My life now: The Naenae Boxing Academy is my replica of the facility that Dick Dunn made for me. I want to make that facility available for boys and girls throughout New Zealand and I believe there are people in New Zealand who want to make a difference as I do.”

Email
​nba@nyct.org.nz