High Performance Sport New Zealand

15/10/2026

Moe mai rā, e te wahine kātuarehe.

We want to acknowledge the passing of Cheryl Waaka, a trailblazer in rugby and a respected leader across Kaikohe and the communities of Te Tai Tokerau. A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, the first woman to coach a senior men’s rugby team and a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby, Cheryl’s contribution reaches far beyond the field.

Her legacy lives on in the people she inspired, the communities she worked in and the opportunities she helped create through sport and physical activity. Kia au te moe, Cheryl.

Photo credit: Far North District Council

13/10/2026

In our latest Performance Nutrition series, HPSNZ Performance Nutritionists Caz Cruden and Rebecca Cooke share insights and tips to help adolescent athletes.

👉️ Read more: https://hpsnz.org.nz/journal-entries/performance-nutrition-adolescent-athletes/

12/10/2026

All hail the 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑸𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏, Mandy Boyd 👑.
The certified 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒍 is crowned the 2026 World Bowls Champion of Champions in Australia. Legend. 🥇🏆

05/10/2026

Paralympian #96 and current HPSNZ Chair Duane Kale looks back at his only Paralympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, where he won a record six medals, broke world records and even overcame a ‘disqualification’ to medal in one event.

👉️ Read more: https://paralympics.org.nz/trailblazers-paralympian-96-duane-kale-ply-onzm/

Paralympics New Zealand

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games we focus on the appropriately numbered Paralympian #96 Duane Kale PLY ONZM. The pioneering Paralympian proved a star of the pool at those Atlanta Games and has since left an indelible mark on Para sport out of the pool.  Perhaps no K...

05/10/2026

What a ripper of a result! Aimee Bright sending it and collecting 🥇 at the iQFOiL Under 23 World Championship in Poland. Congrats Aimee. 🫶

Photo: Molenaar Visuals

02/10/2026

30/09/2026

📢 Applications for the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Athlete Internship are now open!

Ready to build experience beyond sport? The Prime Minister’s Scholarship Athlete Internship offers paid internship opportunities to help athletes prepare for life after sport.

🗓️ Apply by 5pm, Friday 30 October.
👉 Find out more and apply: https://hpsnz.org.nz/funding-and-investment/prime-ministers-scholarships/

29/09/2026

Through an HPSNZ Prime Minister's Scholarship internship with Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Olympic speed climber Sarah Tetzlaff is building the foundations for a career dedicated to protecting New Zealand's environment.

👉️Read Sarah's story here: https://hpsnz.org.nz/journal-entries/prime-ministers-scholarship-internship-sarah-tetzlaff-climbing-towards-a-sustainable-future/

📢 Applications for the next intake of PM Scholarship Internships are now open: https://hpsnz.org.nz/funding-and-investment/prime-ministers-scholarships/

27/09/2026

Ready to take the next step in your high performance sport journey?

Applications are now open for the next intake of Prime Minister’s Scholarships. Coaches, officials and support staff across New Zealand’s high performance sport system are encouraged to apply.

📆 Applications close on 9 October.
👉️ More details on how to apply, here: https://hpsnz.org.nz/funding-and-investment/prime-ministers-scholarships/

21/09/2026

In our latest monthly Performance Nutrition column, HPSNZ Performance Nutritionists Kelsey Paterson and Becky Jones talk about body image, difficult conversations and why it matters.
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Read here: https://hpsnz.org.nz/journal-entries/performance-nutrition-body-image-and-difficult-conversations/