Latest News

In an enthusiastic display of creativity and teamwork, volunteers from University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) have joined forces to help produce an engaging and informative ‘Team UTSNZ’ Workforce Development Programme promotional video aimed at connecting passionate and talented students wanting to put their studies to practical use with volunteer roles, both nationally and internationally. Read more about the project here.

UTSNZ proudly announces the selection of McKayla Little, a talented student, to participate in the prestigious FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy. This exciting opportunity which includes an introductory session on the 23 June, followed a three-day online forum from 7-9 September, will mark an important milestone in Little's academic and leadership journey.

UTSNZ is thrilled to announce that the Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland Men's Football Team has received confirmation of funding support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono for their participation in the highly anticipated FISU University World Cup Football event. The tournament will take place in Jinjiang, China 21 - 31 Oct, bringing together top university teams from across the globe to compete for football supremacy.

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) is thrilled to announce its participation in the global initiative, Sport for Climate Action Change. As an organisation committed to well-being and the future of sports, UTSNZ is dedicated to driving sustainable practices within the university and tertiary sport sector.

The Lincoln University women’s 3x3 team couldn’t be stopped, defending the National Tertiary 3x3 Championship and bringing their total number of titles to five. In the men’s tournament, the University of Canterbury ensured both sets of gold medals were heading down south as they defeated Victoria University of Wellington 21-20 in an epic Grand Final.

The University of Auckland – Waipapa Taumata Rau have claimed the National Tertiary Badminton Championship title for the fourth year running, defeating a spirited University of Canterbury team 4-1 in the Grand Final. In the Tertiary Badminton Cup, first-time entrants XtreMe from the University of Canterbury claimed the silverware over Just In Time 2K23.

UTSNZ is calling for nominations for candidates to fill a student representative governance role on the UTSNZ Board of Directors. More information on the role and the vacancy can be found here.

The 2023 FISU University World Cup Football will be held on 21-31 October, 2023 in Jinjiang, China. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second edition was postponed from 2021 to 2023. It has been four years since the first FISU University World Cup Football successfully took place in 2019 in the same host city.  A total of 16 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams from five continents will gather in Jinjiang again to fight for the supreme honor of university football, and offer another spectacular competition to the world. Read more about the UWC and New Zealand's involvement here. 

Following the Aon New Zealand University Rowing Championship held in April, Rowing NZ have announced the New Zealand Universities Rowing Team to compete against the Australian Universities Rowing Team in Brisbane, Australia – July. Click here for a link to the official announcement and a list of selected athletes.

The University of Otago stamped its dominance at the Aon New Zealand University Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha in April, taking out top points in the UTSNZ National Tertiary Championship Series. Originally scheduled as a 2-day regatta, an algal bloom and subsequent closure of Lake Hood in Ashburton forced the regatta to move further south, but this did not deter the 323 competitors who took part in an action packed schedule of over 40 races. Read more on the regatta here.

Manaia Butler and Hannah Matehaere (University of Otago) recently competed at the 2023 New Zealand University Rowing Championship in Twizel and both have been selected in the 2023 New Zealand Universities Rowing Team to compete against the Australian Universities Rowing Team in Brisbane, Australia in July. Read more here about what makes their selection in the NZ Universities Women's Eight so impressive.

The 2023 Annual General Meeting for UTSNZ will be held online (via Zoom) on Wednesday 24 May at 10.00am. For more details click here.

The 2023 UTSNZ National Tertiary Championship series gets underway this Easter weekend with the Aon NZ University Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand announce inaugural New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards to be run in conjunction with the New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Conference. The inaugural UTSNZ New Zealand Tertiary Recreation Awards will launch with four categories including a Campus Impact Award, Innovation Award, Community Partnership Award and Service to Recreation Award. Read more about the launch of the new Awards here.

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) is excited to confirm that the FISU Oceania 3x3 Continental Qualifying Tournament will take place at AUT’s Te Āhuru Recreation Centre in the City Campus on the 21st and 22nd of July. Read more here.

UTSNZ is committed to fostering and developing opportunities for all New Zealand tertiary students to participate and represent their institution in sport. Setting an aspirational strategy for 2022-2025, UTSNZ is excited to confirm support from Sport NZ to help strengthen its engagement with the wider tertiary sector. Further details on the recently signed Agreement can be found here.

In 2023, the overall University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand National Tertiary Championship Shield - “The Shield” as it is colloquially and fondly known, celebrates its 100th year. Click here for more on the history of this treasured taonga.

UTSNZ is excited to announce the details of the 2023 National Tertiary Championship Series. The 2023 series will see the continuation of inter-tertiary rivalries across New Zealand’s eight universities and in the same eight sports contested in 2022, with points from each event accumulating towards the overall National Championship Shield and National Spirit Award – Te Kaitiaki. Read more on this year's event schedule here.

UTSNZ is delighted to announce the interim appointment of Heinz Fellerhoff to the UTSNZ Board in the Treasurer role. Heinz is currently a Senior Finance Business Partner at Massey University and is a firm supporter of UTSNZ and is goal of providing pathways for tertiary students to continue to participate in sport and foster healthy community connections. Read more on Heinz and his appointment here.

Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland men's football team took on Australia's best in the FISU Oceania University Football World Cup Qualifier in Auckland this month and won, securing them a spot in the FISU Football University World Cup to be played in Jinjiang China from 27 October to 7 November 2023. Read more here.

The Lincoln University women’s and University of Waikato men's 3x3 basketball teams took on the world's best tertiary teams this month at the FISU 3x3 University World Cup in Turkey. Both university teams earnt their place in the tournament after taking out the UTSNZ National Tertiary 3x3 Championship title earlier this year and qualifying on top in the FISU Oceania Qualification process. Read more on this global tournament and the performances of NZ teams here.