Thank you for your patience while we have waited for School Sport NZ to publish their decision on the sanctioning of school sport in term 1.

For Cycling New Zealand Schools this includes the following events:

• Skoda North Island School MTB Championships (due to be held in Rotorua on 1 April – 3 April)
• Skoda South Island School MTB Championships (due to be held in Queenstown on 29 March – 31 March)

 School Sport NZ recognises the importance of sport to student wellbeing, connections to friends, and creating a sense of belonging to their school. The intent of the Covid Protection Framework (CPF) at Red is to allow sport to take place where it is safe to do so. 

They also recognise there are many students and schools across the country that wish to participate in sport at this time, particularly regional and modified offerings. In support of those sports and schools wishing to participate safely, School Sport NZ will continue to sanction events where:

• A detailed Health and Safety plan has been submitted to School Sport NZ showing it can operate safely within CPF Red settings at least 4 weeks in advance of the event taking place
• The event has consulted with schools and has received assurances that teams will participate at least four weeks in advance of the event taking place

You can read more on the School Sport NZ announcement here.

In light of this announcement, Cycling New Zealand Schools have today spoken to the organisers of both upcoming MTB Championships on their ability to safely deliver these events taking into account all of their stakeholders.

Given the size, scale and complexities of these events, it is with regret that neither organiser is in a position to safely deliver the events. Cycling New Zealand Schools support these decisions unreservedly.

As such, the above events cannot take place. 

Cycling New Zealand Schools fully recognise that this decision will be disappointing for many and are committed to look at what localised opportunities may be available that would still offer a chance for our young riders to participate in competition.  

Cycling New Zealand Schools will work with MTBNZ and our affiliated clubs (as well as other venues and organisers) and will continue to provide updates on this as opportunities come forward.

We extend our enormous thanks to Rotorua MTB Club and to Coronet Peak/Queenstown MTB Club for all the work that has gone into these events to date and are pleased to confirm that the North and South Island School MTB Championships will return to Rotorua and Queenstown respectively in 2023.