Highest ever number of PM’s Scholarship internship applicants for 2026
Athletes were required to prepare a detailed application including CV, cover letter, sport and career plans.
HPSNZ Prime Minister’s Scholarship Internship programme lead Hannah McLean says the shortlisted athletes were interviewed by a panel to simulate a job interview.
“For most, this was their first job interview and the feedback from athletes was that it was a challenging but valuable experience.
“The applicant standard was high with a range of sports including speed climbing, triathlon, rowing, and hockey. There was a diverse range of interest areas, including a particular focus on environmental sustainability and natural resource management, a theme that has been developing across the five cohorts.”
Athletes have identified windows of time that work with their sport plans as they build towards LA2028 and spent time researching potential employer partners to support the internship placement process.
“We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead as the internship athletes take up their placements.”
The successful applicants for 2026 are:
- Ben Barclay, Snow Sports Free Ski – Economics, finance, natural resource management
- Sarah Tetzlaff, Speed Climbing – Environmental management, sustainability
- Ainsley Thorp, Triathlon – Events, logistics, NSO HP management
- Kate Haines, Rowing – Business, Marketing, sport & recreation
- Malachi Buschi, Hockey – Medical technology
- Kathryn Glen, Rowing – Business, management
- Sophie Egnot-Johnson, Rowing – Environment, sustainability
- Campbell Crouch, Rowing – Agriculture, environmental economics
- Joe Morrison, Hockey – Engineering
- Saxon Morgan, Triathlon – Real estate