Elite rower receives Major Pasifika Blues Award

Arie Rasmussen Magasiva at only 23, has already established himself among New Zealand's top rowing talent while pursuing postgraduate study at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

The elite athlete and scholar has been honoured with the Major Pasifika Award at the University's 2026 Blues Awards on 2 October, recognising outstanding achievement in sport, academic commitment and leadership.

A member of Rowing New Zealand's High Performance Programme, Arie (Lefagaoali’i, Safotu, Lepea/Sāmoa and Cook Islands) represented New Zealand at the 2026 Rowing World Cups in Spain and Bulgaria, placing 13th at World Cup I and achieving an impressive fifth-place finish at World Cup II.

Following more than a decade dedicated to the sport, he was named as a reserve for the World Rowing Championships and selected for New Zealand's 2026-27 summer squad, placing him among the country's leading rowers and firmly on the pathway towards future Olympic competition.

"I was really surprised," he says of receiving the University Blues Award.

"They kept it a pretty good secret. I didn't even know I was up for the award until my name was read out among the nominees. I was very honoured to even be considered."

Born in Wellington and educated at Marist St Patrick's College, Arie moved to Auckland to undertake a Bachelor of Global Studies and Bachelor of Commerce conjoint degree. Alongside the demands of international sport, he is now studying towards a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Management at the University's Business School.

While many elite athletes focus solely on their sporting careers, he says his mother Meccedes Rasmussen encouraged him to pursue education alongside rowing, recognising that athletic careers have a finite window.

"One thing we weren't willing to budge on was making sure I got the degree I wanted," he says.

"It wasn't the path most people take, but it was really important to me. Now I feel reassured knowing I have something outside of sport that will benefit me in the future."

Balancing international competition, training camps, university study and part-time work has required discipline and careful planning. Arie says the experience and discipline of Rowing was helpful during his undergraduate studies, but like all first-year university students he had to find his bearings.

“I remember that first year of university, I had to step away from the sport to get my bearings, but that helped me have a better understanding of what I needed to do. In my second year, I came back to Rowing and my studies got a lot more interesting. So I wasn’t just holding on for dear life anymore,” says Arie.

Yet he believes the experience has helped prepare him for life both within and beyond sport.

His long-term ambition is to represent New Zealand at either the Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

As a Pacific athlete competing at the highest levels of rowing, Arie also hopes his journey broadens ideas about where Pacific excellence can be found.

"Growing up, you often see Polynesian athletes succeeding in sports like rugby and rugby league, which is something we should be incredibly proud of," he says.

"But you don't see nearly as many Pacific people in niche sports like rowing, especially at the elite level. I never really had role models who looked like me in my sport. I hope my journey helps show that Pacific people can succeed in all kinds of environments."

Faculty of Business and Economics Associate Dean Pacific, Sione Taufa says Arie exemplifies the values celebrated through the award.

"Arie's achievement reflects the dedication, resilience and leadership that define so many of our Pacific student-athletes," says Taufa.

"He is an outstanding role model whose success demonstrates the impact of hard work, service and commitment.”

Arie is grateful to those who have supported his journey. He acknowledged parents, Meccedes Rasmussen and Stevan Magasiva, and his sister Zara, whose unwavering support and sacrifices created opportunities for him to pursue both academic and sporting ambitions.

“For as long as I can remember, my parents have worked incredibly hard to make sure that my sister and I have had every opportunity possible to pursue whatever we wanted to do in life.

“If we were willing to put in the work and commit ourselves to what we wanted to achieve, they would back us 100 percent and do everything in their power to help us get there.”

With such strong backing, his younger sister Zara too has excelled in the sporting arena, already forging an impressive rowing career of her own. Last year Zara won her first national medal; Arie notes proudly that his sibling’s track record is already better than his own at the same stage.

“That's something I'll always be incredibly grateful for, because I know how much my parents have sacrificed over the years to give us those opportunities. Their support has been the root of everything I've been able to achieve.”

He also recognises the coaches who have shaped his development, particularly Ella Pudney, Brooke Walker, Lua Tuiomanufili, Sam Jackson and Nick Barton, each of whom played a role in helping him become the athlete he is today.

Arie says balancing elite rowing, university study and part-time work would not have been possible without the support of understanding employers who accommodated training schedules and international competitions. He also thanks University staff, friends, teammates and wider family for their continued encouragement.

"I've been incredibly lucky to have had so many people willing to support me throughout my life," he says. "Where I am today is a reflection of their support."

As he continues his postgraduate studies and prepares for another demanding season with Rowing New Zealand, the Major Pasifika Blues Award stands as recognition of a young leader demonstrating that Pacific excellence has no limits, whether on the water, in the classroom or on the world stage.