Howick College Athletes Win Multiple Awards at Youth Sports Ceremony

Howick College produced eight finalists and three winners at the 2025 College Sport Auckland Young Sportsperson of the Year awards, with four of its netball players also named in the NZSS A team. This performance places the college at the centre of current youth sports coverage in Auckland.

Why the results stand out now

The awards recognise individual and team achievements across Auckland secondary schools. Howick College’s haul of finalists and winners, alongside the national netball selections, gives the school a prominent position in recent local reporting. Other schools also featured, including Auckland Grammar and Whangaparāoa College, whose athletes Caleb Wagener in triathlon and Zoe Pedersen in swimming were named Young Sportsman and Young Sportswoman respectively.

Local programmes supporting youth athletes

Alongside school results, the biggest Rangatahi Cricket Festival to date took place this week at Lloyd Elsmore Park in East Auckland, highlighting Pacific, Māori and South Asian talent. In West Auckland the 2025 Don Oliver Youth Awards provided scholarships for athletes aged 14-21 to ease costs of international competition. These programmes sit alongside school successes such as those recorded at Howick College.

Participation trends in Auckland

Youth sports participation across Auckland remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, with weekly activity figures holding at 2021 levels and a widening gap appearing in higher deprivation areas. The recent awards and festival provide visible examples of continued activity despite the broader trend.

Schools and clubs can review the College Sport Auckland site for upcoming award cycles and selection processes. Local events such as the Rangatahi Cricket Festival offer additional pathways for Pacific, Māori and South Asian players to gain exposure.