Otago on Top Again but Rivals Rise at Karapiro

The University of Otago has continued its dominance of tertiary rowing, claiming the UTSNZ Shield at the 2026 NZ University Rowing Championships held at Lake Karapiro on 3–4 April.

In a repeat of 2025’s results, Otago once again proved the benchmark across the regatta, also securing the prestigious Tamaki Cup in the women’s Championship Eight and the overall Ashes trophy. The University of Canterbury men held off Otago and Lincoln to successfully defend the Hebberley Shield in the men’s Championship Eight, while Victoria University of Wellington once again claimed the Spirit Award in overwhelming fashion.

Otago’s depth across multiple boat classes proved decisive in securing the overall title, continuing their unbeaten run in the UTSNZ Shield since 2021. However, the University of Auckland delivered a breakthrough performance to finish second overall — their best result in the history of the award — signalling a strong step forward and laying down a marker for the rest of the year. With Canterbury also showing strength in key events, the competitive landscape of university rowing continues to tighten.

A total of 358 student-athletes from all eight of New Zealand’s universities took to the water across 35 events and 54 races, showcasing the depth and strength of university rowing nationwide. Conditions across the weekend were near-perfect, with very light winds allowing for fast and competitive racing. A layer of fog on Sunday morning created a one-hour delay to the schedule, but quickly lifted to allow racing to resume in calm conditions.

While the Championship events delivered on expectation, the regatta also highlighted the strength and competitiveness of developing crews. The women’s Novice Coxed Eight was a standout race of the weekend, with all three crews finishing within seven seconds of each other in a thrilling contest — a reflection of the growing depth and engagement at entry level. With four grades ranging from Novice through to Championship, the event once again demonstrated its ability to cater to athletes at all stages of their rowing journey.

With titles, trophies, and university pride on the line, the NZ University Rowing Championships continues to set the tone for the National Tertiary Championship calendar. Otago’s continued success reinforces its position as the leading university rowing programme; however, with seven events still to come, the competition remains wide open and the year ahead promises to be an exciting one.

You can see the full list of results on RowIT, view and download all of our photos from both days of action on our Flickr page, and re-watch all of the excitement from day 2 here on the live stream.

Event Summary

2026 NZ University Rowing Championships
Location: Lake Karapiro
Dates: 3–4 April 2026

Competitors: 358 student-athletes
Universities: All eight New Zealand universities represented
Races: 54 races across 35 events

Major Results:

• UTSNZ Shield:
• 1^st - University of Otago
• 2^nd – University of Auckland
• 3^rd – University of Canterbury
• Tamaki Cup (Women’s Championship Eight): University of Otago
• Hebberley Shield (Men’s Championship Eight): University of Canterbury
• Ashes Trophy: University of Otago
• Spirit Award: Victoria University of Wellington