Sporting Events Hub — Powered by NZEA & Sport New Zealand
Supporting Sporting Event Excellence
NZEA and Sport New Zealand have come together to champion the people behind Aotearoa’s sporting events, from local community gatherings to major national tournaments. This partnership brings you practical tools, expert insights, and proven examples to help you deliver safe, sustainable, and inclusive events that make a real impact.
Whether you’re managing a weekend fun run or coordinating a large-scale sporting festival, these resources will help you plan with confidence, harness technology effectively, and create lasting benefits for your community.
Focused on What Matters Most
Our learning streams are designed to address the core elements that make sporting events in Aotearoa successful, sustainable, and community-driven.
Event Operations & Safety
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Events Traffic Management Changes
Join Elise Freeman from Parallax for a 30-minute overview of the new Practice Note for Planned Public Events that Impact the Road Network. As lead author, Elise explains key updates, the shift to risk-based Temporary Traffic Management, and what these changes mean for event organisers, councils, and road safety professionals.
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Medical Risk at Events
Join Glen Hoult from Hato Hone St John for an online webinar exploring health risk mitigation in events. Learn how to assess your event’s health risks, identify key contributing factors, and understand the vital role of event medical providers in protecting attendees, staff, and organisers. Essential insights for safer, smarter events.
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Operational Risk & Counter Threat
Join us for a comprehensive webinar on event security, threat mitigation, and safety compliance. Explore the difference between counter threat and security, current national threat levels, and practical hardening measures. Learn about post–White Island legislation changes, contractor pre-qualification, and how to strengthen your Safety Management System to reduce risk exposure.
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Assessing Your Risks
Join Adam Lynch, Ryan Cooney, Gary Wyatt, and Chris Randle for a practical session on event risk assessment. Explore key principles, processes, and approaches to identifying and managing risks without getting lost in technical health and safety detail. Learn how to apply smarter, proactive risk thinking to every stage of your event.
Event Design & Infrastructure
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Site Design for Positive Event Outcomes
Join Cathy Knowsley as she explores how thoughtful site design drives successful event outcomes. Using examples from Matariki Ahi Kā and CubaDupa, Cathy shares how balancing site layout, vendors, audiences, and kaupapa can enhance crowd flow, safety, sustainability, and the overall event experience. A must-watch for event planners and designers.
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Technology at Events – When, Why, How
Join Nikki Streater, GM at Satellite and former Big Day Out event professional, for an engaging session on using technology to elevate events. Through case studies from Fieldays to conferences and sports, Nikki shares when and how tech delivers impact—plus key insights, innovations, and watch-outs for smarter event integration.
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Using Technology to Revive Your Event
Join Ariel Codde (Toast Martinborough) and Andrew Tuck (Homegrown) as they reveal how technology can elevate your event experience. Discover how smart tech solutions—from cameras improving site flow to innovative digital strategies—enhance efficiency, engagement, and delivery. A practical, forward-thinking session for organisers ready to embrace event innovation.
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The Importance of Site Planning
Join Cathy Knowsley for a recorded session on The Importance of Site Planning. Explore how thoughtful site layouts enhance crowd flow, safety, and overall event experience. Using practical examples, Cathy demonstrates how strategic planning supports smooth operations, vendor coordination, and successful outcomes, providing essential insights for any event organiser.
Community, Accessibility & Inclusion
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Event Accessibility
Join Laure Gruffat, Accessibility Manager for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, as she shares insights on making events accessible for all. Learn practical strategies for improving accessibility for people with disabilities—including mobility, sensory, and hearing or visual impairments—at events of any size, with or without a budget
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Providing leverage opportunities to our community
Join Jason Cameron as he shares insights on Māori Engagement at Events. Using examples like the GOAT Tongariro Adventure Run, Jason explains how building strong partnerships with local iwi supports event success, respects cultural values, and creates meaningful community connections—essential guidance for organisers aiming for authentic engagement.
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How Taupo hosts local, regional and major events
Join Steve Giles as he discusses how Taupo hosts the world. How IRONMAN creates 120km of road closures, yet the community fully get behind it, as they know it is good for the city.
Funding, Sponsorship & Promotion
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Sponsorship Fundamentals
Join Richard Howarth from Honoco for a practical webinar on Sponsorship Fundamentals. Learn how to define why organisations would sponsor your event, identify target audiences, align goals, determine rights and benefits, and set appropriate sponsorship fees. Essential guidance for securing and maintaining successful event partnerships.
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Identifying best fit sponsors and retaining them
The best sponsorships thrive when your target market or values align, you solve a sponsor’s problem, or help achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility goals. Join Sarah Meikle to discover how these four key drivers create strong, meaningful partnerships that benefit both your event and sponsors.
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Get More Sponsorship in 2025
Struggling to secure sponsorships or losing existing partners? Join Mike Wootton to learn proven strategies top sponsorship seekers use to win amazing deals in 2025, even amid tough financial times. Discover how evolving your approach can unlock new opportunities and boost your event’s funding success.
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Grant Funding
Hear from three of the top Grant Funders in New Zealand whilst they discuss the current landscape in New Zealand, and how to access some grant funding.
Aaron Lawton, Martin Cheer, Tony Goldfinch.