Rowing New Zealand is launching a nationwide series of Masters Training Camps in 2026, building toward the NZ Masters Regatta at Lake Karapiro on 19–20 September 2026.

Going on camp is a great way to invest in your rowing skill and fitness. Many clubs organise camps for technique, for crew selection and for training. Camps are also an opportunity for an overseas trip - and some of the locations and coaches should be on your rowing bucket list. Friends and business associates of Faster Masters Rowing have the following camps planned. These include a pre-World Rowing Masters Championships camp at Bled, Slovenia and another at Varese Italy als

Para rowing in New Zealand is predominantly masters participants. Ross Webb is working on recruitment into the youth section of clubs - April 25th is a have a go weekend in the Waikato. Some are new to rowing and others are switching from other codes. Some para rowers have been in the sport a long time like Ron Satherly, many are new to rowing aged 30-60. They all suffer from one thing - whatever ails them gives them consternation - either changes are needed to prosthetics or

Alison Dutton mixed quad on dock Most clubs think they do. They have a masters program. They have a coach. They have a slot on the water on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Job done. But here's the question worth sitting with: does your club serve the competitive masters athlete who wants to race at national level  and  the 68-year-old who joined last spring and just wants to stay on the water for the rest of their life? Because those are not the same person, and a single train

How to set up a Gifts in Wills bequest fundraising programme for your rowing club

Readers may have noticed that AON ended their sponsorship of Rowing New Zealand in October last year. It appears that the underlying reason is that globally they have withdrawn from the Marine Pleasurecraft Insurance market. Rebecca Caroe and Natalee Taylor had insurance with AON for their 2x and were advised that the business had been transferred to AMI who would "see you right". After much discussion with brokers and the AMI team, it appears that they will not insure privat

Rowing New Zealand is launching a national series of Masters Training Camps in 2026. They are now inviting clubs to express interest in hosting one of these weekend camps. Camp Overview Each camp will include: • Four on-water sessions in big boats (more where possible) • Erg and technical video analysis • Education seminars • Individual feedback for participants (videos) Camps will cater for 16–24 masters rowers, grouped by ability. These initial camps are not designed for ra

Your rowing club is probably like many others, dependent on external sources of money to run your club each year. Whether you apply for grants or host sausage sizzles, both are time consuming and raise money only for the current season. Next year you have to do it all over again. How to get away from sausage sizzles, give-a-little, and endless grant applications.  How to become a self-funding club with strong community connections. Your questions answered   There is another

Consider this: ninety percent of the time, your boathouse building and equipment sits idle. Between morning and evening training sessions, during midday weekdays, and throughout slower seasons, your valuable facilities generate no income. What if you could change that?   The concept of sweating your assets was famously pioneered by McDonald's in the 1970s. Ray Kroc realised that his restaurants sat largely empty during morning hours, with staff and buildings incurring costs b

Photo: Grant Craies leading the crew from the boat park. Photo Credit: Melanie Lo The famous Auckland schools regatta, Head of the Harbour, has started adding Masters events to the schedule.  Run on Saturday 7th February there were strong entries in the Masters single sculls event with West End's Amanda Badger winning and Brittany Smith coming second. Honourable mention to the lone Cambridge Sculler. Jen Muller making the journey north.   The masters Doubles event was also wo

A small regional rowing regatta in New Zealand has sparked an unexpected debate about what happens when elite athletes compete alongside weekend warriors.   The Blue Lake Regatta, known for its relaxed atmosphere and community feel, recently hosted Olympic gold medallist Emma Twigg and fellow elite rowers Finn Hamill, Matt Dunham, and Michael Brake competing in a range of events including mixed masters eight, quad and double. Their participation drew an angry response from on

Sue Wright chair of the working group has presented a proposed strategy for masters rowing to the Rowing NZ CEO, Simon Wickham, on 14th October 2025.

The team ready for action Spring weather in Rotorua Roll up, Roll up Cambridge RC novice four Cambridge RC novice four using their winners glasses Alice Beban, Hawkes Bay RC won 1x Alana Hawke, BOPC raced 1x Rose Lampen-Smith, Inge Morton, Claire Russell, Lorraine Anderson from St Georges RC North Shore masters RC winning 8 Jill Edwards and Alana Hawke, BOPC won new masters 2x

Maclaine Stuart I wanted to thank you again for the money towards my U19 campaign to attend the World Champs in Lithuania. The grant provided was a huge help towards the overall costs and I am very grateful. Sorry for the delay in updating you, I spent a bit of time travelling after and have […]

Our juniors did us proud in Trakei Lithuania at the U19 World Rowing Championships. The photo below shows the recipients of $3,000 donations from the Legion of Rowers members. The full team is listed on ​Rowing NZ website​. World Rowing results

Rowing is a sport which should be very aligned with climate action. As water users we are very aware of variable water levels and weather patterns changing. I’m sure you have experienced a regatta cancellation due to high winds. The World Rowing Federation is actively supporting three UN Sustainable Development Goals #13 on Climate Action, […]

Masters rowers, we are just over a month away from 2025 NZ Masters Rowing Champs in Twizel!! This year, your registration to enter is different. Rowing Connect is the new individual registration system for Rowing New Zealand. This means everyone participating in rowing this season will need to self-register. NZ Masters Champs entries open 11th September and […]

Rowing can create harmony at home or rowing can rock the domestic boat. For a masters racer who regularly competes in addition to a busy work schedule, time-blocking to give enough attention to a non-rowing partner has its challenges. If the scales are not balanced, all-day weekend regattas, early morning practices, long rows, mixed boat […]

Administrator of the Year Chris Williams, Whangarei Rowing Club Chris Williams has been a dedicated member of the Whangarei Rowing Club since 2011, beginning asa Masters rower and evolving into a highly respected coach and President. His unwaveringcommitment to the club and its athletes is evident in the countless hours he devotes each week tocoaching, […]

Rowing New Zealand’s Community and Schools Rowing Co-Ordinator emailed this letter to all clubs on 15th July 2025. Please ensure your club committee and your masters members respond with feedback before the 29 August deadline. Hello Rowing Community, A Strategy for the Future of Masters Rowing in New Zealand In July 2024, Rowing New Zealand […]