University of Auckland wins national tertiary sporting shield

For the first time since 2022, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has won the UTSNZ National Tertiary Championship Shield, awarded annually to the university that accumulates the highest number of championship points during the national tertiary sporting calendar.

Winning the shield is the pinnacle of inter-university sporting achievement in Aotearoa New Zealand, and reflects an outstanding year from University of Auckland student-athletes who take part in the UTSNZ National Tertiary Championship Series.

Universities accumulate points across national championship events in various sporting codes throughout the year. The University of Auckland entered the final weekend ahead of the University of Otago on 26 September, with the overall title still in contention, needing to come at least fourth in the netball. They came second, to Massey, and the win brought Canterbury’s three-year run as overall national Shield winners to an end.

Throughout the year, UoA teams competed in rowing, badminton, 3x3 basketball, volleyball, Futsal, ultimate, basketball and netball, contributing their array of points towards the overall Shield standings. Strong performances across multiple sports kept Auckland in with the chance to win the title, with the University of Auckland’s women’s teams playing a big role. They won national titles in 3x3 basketball, volleyball and futsal, added bronze in basketball, and finished second in netball. The University of Auckland also won the badminton championship and took second place in rowing, men’s volleyball, men’s futsal and men’s basketball. Together with a third-place finish in ultimate, the results gave Auckland the overall points to win the Shield.  

Sport development manager Albertine Eaton said the achievement reflects the strength of the University's sporting culture and the commitment of its students.

"Winning the UTSNZ Championship Shield is an incredible achievement and one that belongs to all of our student-athletes, student leaders, coaches, volunteers and staff who have contributed throughout the year.

"What makes this result especially meaningful is that it has been built across multiple sports, hundreds of student participants, and countless hours of commitment. It speaks to the depth of talent at the University, but also to the sense of belonging, community and pride our students create through sport."

Student-athletes needed to balance the demands of study alongside training, travel and competition. Representing the University on the national stage required commitment, discipline and teamwork, with students competing against the best tertiary athletes nationally.

Eaton says a key focus of this year's campaign was creating a positive and enjoyable experience for students. While performance remained important, equal emphasis was placed on team connection, camaraderie and fostering a strong sense of belonging within each team environment.

And the students weren’t alone in their quest for victory. A dedicated group of staff and coaches supported the students. Team managers Jake McRae and Alaimalo Mataafa coordinated the National Tertiary Championships campaign and supported teams throughout the year. It was Ala’s first year as part of the National Tertiary Championships leadership team, and she brought fresh energy and perspective to the programme.

Meanwhile, Joe Watts provided strength and conditioning support to make sure the athletes were physically prepared. Coaches and support staff observed noticeable improvements in physical readiness, strength and endurance throughout the championship season. The programme was also supported by Performance Team Lead Alexis Pritchard, whose own experience in the high-performance sport environment helped shape the overall approach to athlete support, team culture and performance.

“For me, high performance starts with people. When connection and belonging are intentionally built into the environment, psychological safety follows. When athletes feel safe, supported and valued, they can be themselves, take risks and perform with greater freedom,” says Pritchard.

“Pride in representing their team and the University grows from that foundation. This year we saw those elements come together across our teams, and I believe they played an important role in the success of our campaign.”

FINAL STANDINGS