News & Updates

Joint statement from NZSSAA and Athletics NZ

It is with regret we announce the cancellation of the NZSSAA Track & Field and Road Championships due to be held in Inglewood, Taranaki from December 16–18.

Owing to earlier issues with Covid this event was to be a dual Championships in association with Athletics NZ’s delayed Under 18 Championship and a trial Under 16’s event.

We have taken this inevitable decision in alignment and support of School Sport NZ’s board decision that there will be no further School Sport national events on the SSNZ calendar in term four due to the levels of uncertainty and viability of events with Covid restrictions over the next six to eight weeks.

The NZSSAA Executive understands while athletes, families, schools and all our supporters will be disappointed we recognise many will welcome this early decision so they can plan through to the year end with some certainty. For our senior school athletes who missed the Under 18 Athletics NZ Championships in March we understand your extreme disappointment once again but wish you all well as you focus your energy on the coming school examination period.

Athletics NZ CEO Peter Pfitzinger stated: “We are deeply disappointed that the NZ Under 18 & Under 16 Track & Field Championships cannot take place. As a sport we were greatly looking forward to this historic occasion within the NZ Secondary Schools Track & Field Champs. We understand the disappointment athletes, supporters, officials, and volunteers must be feeling, especially as it is the second cancellation of the Under 18 Champs within the calendar year. We are looking forward to the Under 18’s returning with the NZ Senior and Under 20 Track & Field Championships from 4-6 March 2022 in Hastings and we are exploring future options for the Under 16 competition.”

The NZSSAA Executive wish to thank the local organising committee in Taranaki for their committed efforts to hold our 49th Championships in Inglewood under difficult times after earlier this year hosting the delayed 2020 NZSS Cross Country. NZSSAA Executive will give confirmation of the hosting of the 2022 Championships¸ and an update to our member schools with notice of the NZSSAA AGM, normally held in conjunction with Championships by Friday 5 November.