UTSNZ Launches New Tertiary Challenge Trophy to Recognise Participation and Growth in Tertiary Sport

UTSNZ is thrilled to announce the launch of the Tertiary Challenge Trophy, the latest addition to its prestigious awards list. This new trophy celebrates the growth and success of the Tertiary Challenge Series, a dynamic competition that continues to expand opportunities for tertiary students to engage in sport, no matter where they study.

The Tertiary Challenge Series was created to increase accessibility, inclusivity, and flexibility in tertiary sport. Unlike UTSNZ’s Championship Series, which is restricted to UTSNZ members and rewards performance, the Challenge Series focuses on participation and offers pathways for all tertiary students regardless of institution to stay active and involved in sport. Recent events, including the Tertiary Beach Volleyball tournament, have seen positive engagement from students studying at Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs). Over the last 18 months, representatives from Ara Institute of Technology, Unitec Institute of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, Open Polytechnic, WITT, and others such as the Media Design School, Yoobee College and students within the NZ Navy studying tertiary accredited papers proudly competed alongside university students, demonstrating the power of sport to connect students across diverse learning environments.

UTSNZ believes it is important to recognise the unique challenges faced by ITP students in staying involved in organised sport. With limited access to on-campus sports facilities and the absence of designated sports departments, ITP students often lack structured pathways to participate in tailored tertiary events. By providing flexible, accessible opportunities through the Tertiary Challenge Series, UTSNZ is breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community for all tertiary students - whether studying full-time, part-time, or remotely.

The introduction of the Tertiary Challenge Trophy, launching in 2025, further reinforces this commitment. Unlike traditional awards, points for the Tertiary Challenge Trophy will be awarded solely based on participation. The more students an institution involves and the more events they compete in, the more points they earn - making it an award any tertiary institution, large or small, can strive to win.

“This is an exciting step forward for tertiary sport in New Zealand,” says Executive Director, Sarah Anderson. “The Tertiary Challenge Trophy celebrates what the Challenge Series is all about - getting more students involved, providing opportunities for everyone, and fostering a sense of pride and community. We look forward to seeing institutions from across the country compete for this award.”

The Tertiary Challenge Series has already proven to be a catalyst for participation, offering students a fun and inclusive way to stay active through a diverse range of events. From the online Archery League, which allows students to compete remotely, to the Badminton Cup, Open Water Swimming events, Powerlifting competition, and esports tournaments, the Challenge Series has created flexible and innovative opportunities that appeal to a wide range of interests.

For students at Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), these events have opened up exciting new pathways to stay engaged in sport and build connections with their peers. Orion Elward from Unitec highlighted the Tertiary Archery Challenge as a valuable way to stay engaged and motivated. “I found it fantastic as I could regularly compete against other archers around the country that I would not normally be able to shoot against.  Another praised the flexibility of the Tertiary Archery Challenge, which allowed him to compete online. “I found competing online very easy. Obviously, it’s very different to competing in a tournament where you are surrounded by other archers competing for the same thing. I found it easier because there was significantly less stress and anxiety when doing a league instead of a tournament.” Read more on these archers experiences here.

He also shared how archery has helped him navigate the pressures of student life. “My main motivation for continuing archery while studying is the same reason why archery benefits me as a student - by giving me something to look forward to outside of school, especially when classes are going into the later stages of the year when assignments are due.”

With the launch of the Tertiary Challenge Trophy, UTSNZ hopes to inspire even more institutions to embrace the series, strengthening the role of sport in tertiary education.

For now, after the conclusion of the first Tertiary Challenge Series event of 2025 - the Tertiary Beach Volleyball - the Tertiary Challenge Trophy leaderboard has been launched, with the University of Auckland currently leading with 10 participants competing in the competition, followed by the University of Waikato with 6 participants.

Also on the board from the broader tertiary sector is the Western Institute of Technology (WITT), alongside representation from the New Zealand Navy through eligible tertiary-level participants.

It is expected more institutions will join these ranks at the series progresses.

For more information on the Tertiary Challenge Trophy or how your institution can get involved in the Tertiary Challenge Series, visit the UTSNZ website.