From the Director of High Performance
Kia ora tātou,
It has been a busy time for international sporting competition since the end of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Over the past month we have seen some encouraging results from New Zealand athletes in world championships, world cups and pan pacific championships with podium finishes in rowing, swimming, canoe racing, canoe slalom, shooting para sport and triathlon / ironman.
Others will have found their events important and timely measures of how their LA28 Olympic and Paralympic campaigns are progressing, as well as indicators of the shifts needed from here, which is the focus of much of our current mahi.
We’ve been connecting with our NSO partners through a series of recent forums focussed on LA28 and their campaigns. We’ll continue monthly meetings with podium sport HPDs to discuss and help them refine LA campaigns and ensure they are receiving the support they need in key areas.
Our coach consultants are also prioritising connecting with coaches on their Olympic and Paralympic planning to help ensure they have clarity about what they need and support to focus on the things that will make a difference.
Behind the scenes, HPSNZ’s Goldmine Innovation team are working with NSOs on some of the technical innovations that could help make critical gains in LA.
Beyond LA, Brisbane 2032 is the next horizon we are focussed on. We recently hosted a High Performance Athlete Development Managers forum, providing an exchange of perspectives and shared learning around athlete development for Brisbane and beyond.
This connected approach is a key element of New Zealand’s competitive advantage, and we appreciate the ongoing willingness of our NSO partners to work collaboratively with us and each other.
Ngā mihi nui
Steve
Team behind the team: the evolution of Team Erika
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Erika Fairweather has been one of New Zealand’s busiest and most successful athletes in 2026, with 5 Commonwealth Games and 3 Pan Pacific Swimming Championship medals to her name in recent months alone.
HPSNZ Update caught up with Erika and a few of her HPSNZ support team to gain some insights into the team dynamics behind her 2026 successes and what the road to LA28 looks like for them.
The thing that stands out about Erika’s HPSNZ support team and their close working relationship with the athlete is the purposeful evolution driving them forward. That evolution has contributed to her outstanding 2026 results and there is more planned between now and LA28.
Discover more about Erika’s support team and hear Erika’s perspective ➜
Coaches, officials and support staff – PM’s Scholarship applications now open
Coaches, officials and support staff from New Zealand’s high performance sport system are encouraged to apply for the next intake of Prime Minister’s Scholarships.
The Prime Minister’s coach, officials and support team scholarships provide financial support to coaches, officials and support staff to build capability. The scholarships enable the pursuit of professional development opportunities that enhance the professional capability and expertise within New Zealand’s high performance sport system. They contribute to the effectiveness, consistency and sustainability of the high-performance sport workforce, ultimately strengthening support for athletes and the overall success of the system.
Check out these case studies to see how the scholarships have benefitted recent recipients:
Coach Scholarship – Aaron Osborne
Support Team Scholarship – Peter Kadar
Click here for more details and how to apply.
Applications close on 9 October 2026.
Paralympian #96 Duane Kale – 30 years since his Atlanta 1996 triumph
When Paralympian #96 and current HPSNZ Chair Duane Kale attended his only Paralympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, he won a record six medals, broke world records and even overcame a ‘disqualification’ to medal in one event.
Duane won four gold medals, a silver and a bronze. His total medal tally remains the most medals won by a New Zealander at a single Paralympic Games (it has since been equalled by Paralympian #166 Dame Sophie Pascoe at London 2012). His four gold medals stand level with #13 Eve Rimmer and #81 Jenny Newstead as the most golds by a New Zealander at a single Paralympic Games.
Thirty years on, Duane has had the opportunity to look back on Atlanta 1996, reflecting and providing insights into his stellar performance as a Paralympian, in this Paralympics New Zealand Trailblazers video and story, and in this interview with Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine.
Congratulations Duane.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship Internship: Sarah Tetzlaff climbing towards a sustainable future
For Olympic speed climber Sarah Tetzlaff, success can be measured in hundredths of a second on the climbing wall.
And through an HPSNZ Prime Minister’s Scholarship internship with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, she’s building the foundations for a career dedicated to protecting New Zealand’s environment.
Currently balancing an international competition campaign with her role as a graduate environmental scientist in the Council’s Water Resources team, Sarah says the internship has given her the opportunity to pursue two passions at once.
“I feel like I’ve got two of my dream jobs that I’m doing at once,” she says.
Check out Sarah and her employer’s perspective on the internship ➜
Performance Nutrition: Adolescent athletes
HPSNZ Performance Nutritionists Caz Cruden and Rebecca Cooke
“The hardest thing about food is being bothered to make something”
A recipe for adolescent elite athlete sourdough
Ingredients
- 1 x school-age athlete, still growing and learning
- 1 x supportive coach, finely balanced
- 2 or more parents/caregivers, fresh and well rested where possible
- 1 x generous cup of siblings and friends, for flavour and fun
- 4 x cups of training and competition, folded through gradually
- 1 x national sporting organisation, added for structure
- 1 x dollop of athlete support specialists, seasoned to need
- A dash of cash, if available
Read on to see how the recipe comes together ➜
New online concussion course
Sport NZ Group and ACC have launched When in doubt, sit them out, a free online course available on Sport Tutor that helps recognise a possible concussion, know what to do next and support a safe return to sport.
Designed for non-medical audiences, the 30-minute course reinforces the core steps of recognise, remove, refer, recover and return.
The course may be useful for athlete development managers, coaches and athlete-facing support staff working with young people and can help build a consistent understanding of concussion across community, development and high performance environments.
Athlete tips from the Performance Life team: Job Interviews
Job interviews can feel a lot like competition day. Preparation can make a big difference.
An interview is an opportunity to bring your CV to life — to show not only what you have done, but how your skills, experiences and strengths could add value in a role.
A little preparation can help you feel more comfortable, confident and ready to show an organisation what you can bring to the role. Here are five simple tips to help you prepare for your next interview.
Performance Life Top 5
Golden Nugget
“The interview isn’t the time to start preparing — it’s the time to perform what you’ve already prepared.”
Resources
READ: The Interview Book: How to Prepare and Perform at Your Best in Any Interview – James Innes
WATCH: How to Be Confident in a Job Interview! – 11 Tips for Overcoming Interview Nerves — CareerVidz