Sport

Taupō athletes have made their mark on the world stage, with four local competitors achieving outstanding results at the inaugural Deadly Dozen World Championships

Paparata Farms King Country Rams 55 – South Canterbury 22 

The Paparata Farms King Country Rams had a heartbreaking loss to North Otago on Saturday being pipped 32-31 at Oamaru.   

The Paparata Farms King Country Rams have made a flying start to their Heartland Championship campaign, retaining the Bill Osborne Taonga and reclaiming the Centurions Cup with an impressive 48–29 victory over Thames Valley at Te Kūiti.

At just 17 years old, I had the incredible opportunity to represent New Zealand on tour in South Africa with the New Zealand Ladies Polocrosse team (in June).  It was an experience I’ll never forget, and one that I’ll be proud of and cherish for the rest of my life. 

The biggest race at Taupō Racing Club didn’t disappoint on Sunday with a dramatic, come-from-behind win in the listed $100,000 Chittick Family Fillies Classic.  It may have been snowing on the nearby mountains, with a chilly wind whipping across the course, but that didn’t deter hundreds of punters keen to see Taupō’s richest race unfold. 

The Paparata Farms King Country Rams have brought the Bill Osborne Taonga back to King Country after a thrilling 45–41 victory over Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin on Saturday.  Having surrendered the taonga to the same team last season, the Rams produced an impressive opening performance in the Heartland Championship to reclaim it. 

The Paparata Farm King Country Rams begin their 2026 Heartland Championship campaign on Saturday, August 15, when they travel to Levin to take on Horowhenua-Kapiti. 

Coach Aarin Dunster will take his Heartland squad into the opening encounter, fresh and keen after just one warm-up match.  

The Global Games New Zealand Junior Rugby Festival has been named Sports Event of the Year and Sustainable Event Initiative of the Year at the New Zealand Event Awards. 

Global Games founder Tyrone Campbell says the awards mark the realisation of an idea that first took shape while travelling overseas nearly two decades ago. 

Supercars estimates its first double header in Taupō and Christchurch resulted in a visitor spend of $21.4 million. 

Supercars estimates its first double header in Taupō and Christchurch resulted in a visitor spend of $21.4 million.

Taupō Racing Club is gearing up for its biggest race meeting to date on August 16, with Stud Day headlined by the $100,000 Chittick Family Fillies Classic — the club's first-ever listed race. 

Taupō’s newest rugby club has gone from relative easy beats to an unstoppable force in just seven years. 

Taupō Marist Rugby Club’s premier team won the 2025 KCRU Waitomo Group Meads Shield on Saturday. 

Six riders from the Taupō BMX Club are heading to Brisbane, Australia, to compete at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships from 17–24 July at Sleeman BMX — one of the largest contingents the club has sent to the event in recent years.

A youth sports festival hosted in Taupō has been recognised alongside some of New Zealand's most prestigious sporting events.

Taupō’s teenage boxing sensation Connor Campbell has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games next month.

James Drought is proving that age is no barrier when it comes to chasing your dreams.

Taupō’s Lake City Squad is keeping its feet up ahead of a cultural korero between Māori and America’s Pechanga and Kumeyaay tribes.

E-bike riders in Kinloch and Rotorura have received a boost from a King’s Birthday Government funding present.

Taupō boxer Connor Campbell is now waiting on a decision about Commonwealth Games selection after excelling in a series of overseas fights. 

More young women are feeling the call of the wild and this has been reflected in the results of this year’s annual Pureora Hunting Competition. 

The 2026 New Zealand Three-day Event returns to Taupō on May 14-17, following last year’s event in the South Island.

Basketballer Blaine Fitzgerald is on the up – and not just because he’s six foot six (198cm). 

Taupō teenager Nate Clarke can lay claim to having the best slam-dunk in youth basketball after leaping his way to the title of 2026 JSC Dunk Champion at the Hoopnation Junior Showcase on the weekend.

Connor Campbell has won gold at an international boxing tournament in Australia, the first  step in his quest to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in July.

The biggest names in New Zealand speedgolf will converge on Taupō Golf Club on April 18–19 for the 2026 TORO New Zealand Speedgolf Open.

At just 17 years old, Toby Elmiger is already making history on New Zealand's motorsport circuit.

‍Welcome to the Events Guide for the Taupō District.

The Taupō Association Football Club has been given $10,000 for new uniforms.

Thousands of hunters are heading for the hills in the central North Island over Easter weekend.