Sport Awards
An annual celebration of student athletes, teams and success that made this season unforgettable.
What are the Sports Awards?
Our Sports Awards are an annual celebration of student sport at the University of Auckland. Throughout the year, students represent the University across a range of sporting opportunities, including Interfaculty competitions and National Tertiary Championships. Sports Awards are an opportunity to bring together students, athletes, teams, coaches and members of our sporting community to celebrate their sporting achievements.
The awards recognise sporting performance, including leadership, commitment, sportsmanship, contribution to teams and the wider sporting community, and the positive impact students have through sport. There are 19 award categories, recognising a range of individual and team achievements.
Award categories
- Individual Sporting Excellence
- Major awards - Interfaculty Sport
- Major awards - National Tertiary Championships
- Shield Presentations
At its heart, Sports Awards is about celebrating the people behind student sport, recognising what they have achieved, the contribution they have made, and the community they have helped create throughout the year.
How are Sports Awards winners selected?
Students, teams and members of the sporting community can nominate their peers for the different categories. From these nominations, finalists are selected, and the public is invited to vote on the winners for each category. A judging panel will then meet to review the votes and confirm the winners.
Who is eligible for the Sports Awards?
To be eligible for a sport award, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current student at the University of Auckland
- Participated this year in Interfaculty tournaments or National Tertiary Championships through the University of Auckland
- Be nominated by yourself or someone else to be considered for a Sports Award
2026 National Tertiary Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Badminton Sportsperson of the Year | Amanda Ting |
| Basketball Sportsperson of the Year | Joel Sagala |
| Netball Sportsperson of the Year | Crystal Maro |
| Futsal Sportsperson of the Year | Jordana Bremner |
| Rowing Sportsperson of the Year | Sarah Healy |
| Volleyball Sportsperson of the Year | Molina Phirun |
| Ultimate Sportsperson of the Year | Braden Jones |
| Rookie of the Year | Josh Voykovic-Rakiraki |
| Tertiary Coach of the Year | Annalisa Tresoldi |
| Tertiary Team of the Year | Women's Volleyball |
| Tertiary Sportsman of the Year | Finn Ambridge |
| Tertiary Sportswoman of the Year | Emily Muller |
2026 Interfaculty Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Interfaculty Team of the Year | Te Wahanga Ture - Law Men's Basketball Team |
| Interfaculty Manager of the Year | Matthew Fautauli'i and Holly Lightbourne |
| Interfaculty Supporter of the Year | Falefitu Mataafa |
| Interfaculty Sportsman of the Year | Charles Lavakei'aho |
| Interfaculty Sportswoman of the Year | Rhiannon Kapa |
| Waka Ama Sportsperson of the Year | Pikitangaarangi Ratapu |
| Tautua Award | Charles Lavakei'aho and Leila Schmidt-Sopoaga |
| Interfaculty Shield Winners | Te Herenga Auaha - Engineering and Design |