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Sport has always been a big part of campus life at Lincoln University and the university has a history of its leaders undertaking sporting roles. Current Vice Chancellor, Professor Grant Edwards, continues this tradition and makes history as the first to claim the double of leading a University and a provincial sporting side at the same time.

University and Tertiary Sport NZ (UTSNZ) is excited to announce the appointment of Narise Hansen to the current Board of Directors. Read more here.

Planning is well underway for the New Zealand Universities Lacrosse Tournament which is being held at the University of Auckland on Saturday 16 July. Six teams from five universities will be competing for the title this year including AUT, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury, and two teams from hosts the University of Auckland.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) held their meeting of the Executive Committee on the 24 and 25th of June, in Brasilia. At this meeting the dates of the Chengdu World University Games were confirmed as 28 July to 8 August, 2023. Read more here.

UTSNZ and Orienteering NZ are pleased to announce the selection of nine athletes to compete at the 2022 FISU World University Orienteering Championships to be held in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland from the 17th to 21st August. Read more here.

Sport NZ has released two new Active NZ 2021 reports: Changes in Participation and Updating the Participation Landscape. Active NZ has been running in its current form since 2017 and now offers five years’ worth of data. With this comes an opportunity to investigate emerging trends, as well as providing a robust sample to dig into specific demographic audiences including 18-24-year-olds. Click here for more.

New Zealand Football has announced the women’s and men’s squads for the 2022 FISU World University Futsal Championships, the first international futsal action for Aotearoa New Zealand teams since 2019. Full announcement and team lists here.

Aspiring to accelerate his career through growth in personal leadership capabilities, as well as adding value to teams and colleagues within sport and management environments, UTSNZ is excited to announce Jason Nel as this year’s New Zealand student representative in the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy (FVLA). Read more here.

With the Aon NZ University Rowing Championships postponed earlier this year, Victoria University Rowing Club took matters into their own hands and revived the Interfaculty Rowing event that had sat dormant for 5 years. Learn more about the event held on Saturday the 7th of May thanks to this write-up from Club President, Tom Walsh.

The top tertiary 3x3 talent from across the motu converged on Massey University in Palmerston North last weekend for the National Tertiary 3x3 Championship. All eight of New Zealand’s universities were represented in both the men’s and women’s tournaments which were streamed live on Sky Sport Next. Read more as we recap the tournament and award winners.

The draw for the upcoming National Tertiary 3×3 Championships – which sees the top men’s and women’s teams from each of New Zealand’s eight universities competing over two spectacular days – has been announced. Catch all the action this weekend as Massey University hosts the National Tertiary 3x3 Championship, tipping off the first of UTSNZ’s National Tertiary Championship Series events for 2022. Read more here.

The Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games will now take place in 2023. Following extensive discussions between FISU, the Chengdu 2021 Organising Committee and other stakeholders, a decision has been made to further postpone the Chengdu Games until 2023. The Chengdu Games had initially been scheduled for the summer of 2021, but were rescheduled to take place 2022 due to the on-going effects of the Covid19 pandemic and concerns for player welfare. Read more here.

University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) is excited to announce that in partnership with School Sport New Zealand (SSNZ), the NZTG has been extended to include tertiary institution staff in recognition that the health of the teaching profession is essential for the development and support of New Zealand students. Read more on the 2022 event and partnership here.

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington student Jason Nel has joined the UTSNZ team as the new Marketing Intern for 2022. A second year Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in Marketing and Management, Jason’s primary role is to ensure student voice is maintained throughout UTSNZ’s marketing strategy with the key deliverable being the monthly student e-newsletter ‘Compete & Connect’.

UTSNZ signs a multi-year hosting agreement with Sport Manawatu and the Palmerston North City Council which will see the best university sports teams in the country descend on Te Papa-i-Oea in one championship sport each year through until 2024. Read more on the hosting agreement here.

Following consideration by the Universities Committee a decision has been made to postpone the 2022 Aon NZ University Championships that were scheduled for 8th and 9th April 2022 in Whanganui. The reason for the postponement is due to the ongoing uncertainly around COVID.

Climbing New Zealand is pleased to announce the selection of 4 athletes to compete at the FISU World University Climbing Championships to be held in Innsbruck, Austria from the 14th to the 17th of June 2022.

The Board of University and Tertiary Sport NZ (UTSNZ) has made the difficult decision not to send a New Zealand team to the Chengdu 2022 World University Games. Click to read the full announcement.

UTSNZ has published its new strategic plan that will guide the organisation’s growth and development over the next four years. The plan sets out the organisation’s strategic focus areas, each with a series of targeted goals. To read more about the strategy and for a copy click here. 

Tertiary beach volleyball athletes from around the country congregated on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach on Friday the 21st of January, with national titles and medals on the line in three divisions.

We know from research, and what young people have told us that sport and school are very closely connected. Sport gives students a sense of belonging and connection when they’re interacting with their mates. Sport is a great way to help manage anxiety and stress for young people, and students who are involved in sport tend to realise their potential in the classroom with better academic results. UTSNZ speaks to Year 13 students Ashleigh Bindon and Jade Fairley to find out more.