PALMERSTON NORTH – One of the biggest sports events in New Zealand gets underway on Monday in Palmerston North with the 54th New Zealand Secondary Schools Volleyball Championships at CET Arena and Massey University.
With volleyball on a rapid rise in schools across the motu, the 2024 event has jumped 20% in participating teams, up to 198 in total with 103 girls’ teams joined by 95 boys’ teams over five days of competition.
The increase in teams echoes the latest School Sport NZ Census information which shows volleyball has again strengthened its rangatahi base – now the third most popular school sport in Aotearoa – with an 11% rise in participation over the last two years.
Those numbers present some unique opportunities and Volleyball New Zealand CEO Steven Upfold says the continued growth requires an evolution of the way in which the sport delivers to its members.
“It’s clear that volleyball is thriving in our schools and with the year-on-year increases in participation comes the need to innovate and meet the demand which keeps expanding,” Upfold said.
“For this event that has meant significant changes to our draw structure to be able to accommodate the increased demand. We’re excited to be trying something different and assess the impact of the changes on the overall event experience for the future.”
The 2024 competition has been delivered in greater partnership with Volleyball Manawatu. Chair Tim Middlehurst, spoke of the extended partnership
"Not only is the tournament a wonderful event for the region to host, but for many young athletes is a highlight of their sporting careers. With the event continuing to grow in popularity, Volleyball Manawatū is proud to be working with Volleyball New Zealand to make sure that it remains safe and enjoyable for all involved."
The event is one of the biggest in the Palmerston North City Council annual calendar and the 2024 tournament will see several activations and promotions in the city.
A Palmerston North City Council spokesperson says the city is excited to welcome back the best of the best in secondary schools volleyball.
“The event not only brings with it the spirit of competition but also fuels our local economy, giving us the chance to showcase our city’s hospitality.”
The competition gets underway on Monday and you can follow the action via the Volleyball New Zealand website and via streaming broadcast of multiple courts throughout the tournament via Broadcast Partner Whakaata Māori.
The Division 1 boys and girls finals will also be broadcast live on Whakaata Māori Channel 5 on Friday 22 March.
