Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallists Sophie Pascoe, Cameron Leslie and Nikita Howarth were in attendance at the AUT Millennium in Auckland to launch the first ACC Paralympics New Zealand open day ©Getty Images

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallists Sophie Pascoe, Cameron Leslie and Nikita Howarth were in attendance at the AUT Millennium in Auckland to launch the first ever Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) open day.

The event is part of a new series of local events set to help disabled people get involved in sport.

It is hoped the programme will increase interest and participation in community sport activities lead by the nation's sports governing bodies, national sports organisations and disability sport bodies.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to practice athletics, cycling, swimming, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, shooting, sailing, and boccia, as well as some winter Para-sports.

There were also a variety of activities for visually impaired athletes, including blind football, and the chance to speak to a variety of disability sport organisations.

A highlight of the day for many, however, was the question and answer session with the PNZ athletes in attendance.

They shared insight into the Paralympic Games, the atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro, life inside the Paralympic Village and what their future plans are.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to practice a number of Paralympic sports ©Getty Images
Those in attendance had the opportunity to practice a number of Paralympic sports ©Getty Images

"It is fantastic to see such a great turn out today following an exceptional Rio 2016 Paralympic Games," said Fiona Allan, chief executive of PNZ.

"It is exciting to be able to help disabled people discover the joy of local community sport, regardless of whether they have Paralympic ambitions.

"Importantly, we have certainly seen a number of individuals today that display strong competitive potential which is exciting for the future."

Pascoe won five medals, including three gold, at Rio 2016 to become New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian with 15 medals in total.

"It is so exciting to see that the success that the team had in Rio has inspired other disabled kiwis to come along to the Open Day, try Para-sport and maybe go all the way to a future Paralympic Games," she said.

"It is a great feeling for all of us as Paralympians to know that we have paved the way."

This follows New Zealand’s most successful Paralympic Games at Rio 2016 where they secured 21 medals, including nine golds, to finish 13th overall, their highest ever position.

This is the first of three similar events with the other two scheduled to take place at the Avantidrome in Cambridge on November 5 and Cowles Stadium in Christchurch on February 18.