University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau and Massey University Crowned 2022 Series Champions

The 2022 National Tertiary Championship Series drew to a close at the weekend after one of the most competitive series since its inauguration in 2016.

Results of the final three championship events saw the overall lead on the championship table swapping between the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau multiple times, with Canterbury heading into the final event two points clear of their Auckland rivals.

It was the University of Auckland however that clinched the overall championship series title after claiming gold at the National Tertiary Netball Championships in Wellington, finishing the year four points clear of the University of Canterbury who once again came tantalizingly close to taking the overall series win.

Sport department staff and management at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau were ecstatic to retain the shield after an incredibly close and exciting year of university sport.

“Congratulations to Otago and Canterbury for finishing in the medals and being in the hunt for the win right up to the last tournament of the championship series. It is so good to have UTSNZ inter-tertiary sports tournaments back after a tough couple of years!”

“University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau would also like to thank UTSNZ, on behalf of all NZ Universities, for their remarkable effort to deliver an exceptional National Tertiary Championship series this year.  Thanks to all students, athletes, coaches, managers, and sport staff for making the tournaments such a huge success.  We’d like to acknowledge all involved for supporting the tournaments when resources and time have been challenging” says Universty of Auckland spokesperson and Associate Director Campus Life Sean Smith.

Defending champions University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau retained the title of overall National Tertiary Champions and the coveted Shield following championship wins in Badminton, Ultimate and Netball. These titles adding to an impressive scoresheet for the year with the university also being runner’s up in women’s Futsal and men’s Basketball, as well as taking bronze medal position in the men’s Futsal championship.

The University of Canterbury went close to ending Auckland’s winning reign with four championship titles of their own in the men’s and women’s Volleyball and men’s and women’s Futsal, plus three bronze medal finishes including the men’s 3x3, Badminton and Ultimate championships. Heading into the final event the university had a serious chance at pushing for overall glory with a two point lead in the series after claiming silver at the Aon New Zealand University Rowing Championship also decided at the weekend. The overall rowing result included an impressive win for the UC men’s crew who defended their title in the prestigious men’s championship 8+s seeing them retain the Hebberley Shield.

It was the University of Otago however who took maximum points at the rowing championship event seeing them take the 2022 title, plus contributing to a third place finish in the overall UTSNZ championship series.

In the quest for Te Kaitiaki, a new overall Tertiary Spirit Champion was crowned with Massey University topping the table at the closing whistle.

Awarded to the university that has displayed the best sportsmanship and captured the spirit of the national tertiary events over the course of the year, Massey University consistently demonstrated their sporting mana with teams and participants upholding the values of kotahitanga, manaakitanga and rangatiratanga both on and off the field.

“Having the opportunity to be the second winners of Te Kaitiaki is an honour for Massey University and is a reflection of what the UTSNZ national inter-tertiary events mean to the student community.”

“The drive to come together for these events shows how much the students value the competitive environment that these tournaments provide and the life-long connections they are able to make through meeting new people, both from the different Massey campuses, as wel as with those other institutions” confirms Chris Sharrock, Sports Coordinator at Massey University.

UTSNZ congratulates both the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau and Massey University on taking out the top awards for 2022, as well as all other New Zealand universities who took part.

“It’s been a fantastic year in this new era of tertiary sport which recognises not only the importance of competitive sport and team-based participation, but also its impact on student well-being. We have known for some time that sport plays a key role in many students’ positive experiences of their time at university, making friends for life, creating a “family” and support network away from home, building employability and life skills and supporting both their physical and mental wellbeing. Seeing this come to life through the championship series is extremely rewarding and we commend the efforts of everyone who has taken part in 2022 – students, university sport managers and our national and regional sport partners" concludes UTSNZ Executive Director Sarah Anderson. 

ENDS

For full  2022 championship results visit www.utsnz.co.nz