Triathlon NZ is partnering with the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation to bring the sport back to one of New Zealand’s most important adaptive sport festivals this weekend, with the wider goal of building a genuine national pathway.
The Halberg Games at King’s College in Auckland (weather permitting) is a three-day national sports festival for young New Zealanders aged 8–21 who have a physical or visual impairment. Athletes earn their place by competing at regional level, before coming together for a festival that includes competition, opening and closing ceremonies, and a full programme of activities designed to celebrate sport and community.
Triathlon is back in that mix and for Triathlon NZ, the return matters well beyond what happens on race morning.
The bigger picture
This season has already seen meaningful momentum at the grassroots end of adaptive triathlon. Canterbury Triathlon Club and RATS (Rotorua Association of Triathlon & Multisport) both delivered their first-ever adaptive events, attracting more than 150 participants combined.
The challenge has always been what comes next for those participants. The Halberg Games provides exactly that, a natural next step in the pathway, bridging the gap between local, have-a-go events and a national festival experience.
Triathlon well-suited to the Halberg environment. Its flexible formats and multiple entry points across swim, bike, and run make it highly adaptable across a wide range of impairment types, something that few sports can match in the same accessible way.
Platform, not just event
The Halberg Games presence also strengthens Tri NZ’s ability to support clubs, train coaches, and scale delivery nationwide. The goal isn’t a single annual highlight, it’s consistency and continuity: more events, more regions, and stronger connections into both community and performance pathways.
“Getting triathlon back into the Halberg Games is an important step for us,” said Anna Russell, Tri NZ’s GM Community and Sport Services.
“It’s not just about one event, it’s about building a genuine, nationwide pathway for adaptive triathlon. We’ve already seen what’s possible at a community level this season, with Canterbury and Rotorua clubs delivering their first adaptive events and more than 150 people getting involved.
“The Halberg Games gives those participants something to aspire to and helps us connect those local opportunities into a national platform. Our focus is on continuing to grow this… more clubs, more regions and more opportunities for para-athletes to be part of triathlon.”
The triathlon race at the Halberg Games takes place at 8am on Sunday at King’s College in Auckland, as part of a full three-day festival programme running from 10–12 April.
For more information on the Halberg Games, visit halberg.co.nz.
