The Maadi Cup is the prize for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Boys' Under 18 Rowing Eights. More colloquially, it is the name given to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Regatta, at which the Maadi Cup is raced. The regatta is the largest school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 2,087 rowers from 113 secondary schools participating in 2023 The regatta is held annually in late March, alternating between the country's two main rowing venues: Lake Karapiro near Cambridge (odd years), and Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel (even years).
The top prizes at the regatta are the Maadi Cup, Springbok Shield, Levin Jubilee Cup, Dawn Cup and Star Trophy. The fastest time recorded in the Maadi Cup event was by St Bede's College in 2023 with a time of 5:42.17, which is also the overall record time for the Boys' Under 18 Eight in New Zealand. This was also the closest race for the Maadi Cup in the event's history, with St Bede's College winning by 0.06 seconds over Hamilton Boys' High School. Also in the same year was the fastest time recorded in the Levin Jubilee Cup event by Rangi Ruru Girls' School with a time of 6:27.68.
History During World War II, members of the 2nd NZEF based at Maadi Camp in Egypt competed in regattas on the Nile against local Egyptian rowing clubs. At a regatta held on 20 November 1943 the Maadi Camp Rowing Club "Kiwi" oarsmen beat the Cairo River Club by 11 points to six to win the Freyberg Cup, which they then gifted to the competitors. In return, as a token of friendship, Youssef Baghat presented the Kiwis with a cup. Youssef Baghat's cup was offered to the NZARA (now NZRA) as a trophy for an annual boys' eight-oared race between secondary schools and was brought to New Zealand at the end of the war.
Renamed the Maadi Cup it was first raced for in 1947 at Wanganui where it was won by Mount Albert Grammar School, who beat Sacred Heart College by a half-length. Four boats took part in the original race, with Allan Tong a member of Wanganui Technical College; he would later compete in the New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, in the coxed four. The fourth boat was from St Augustine's College. The Maadi Cup gained its native timber pyramid shaped base from Mt Albert Grammar's woodwork master and first rowing coach, Jack Jenkin, in 1951. Only 17 schools have ever won the cup, with Wanganui Collegiate School the most successful, having won it 17 times.
Members for the 2nd NZEF competed in rowing regattas and won races run by the Cairo River Club until they were shipped back to New Zealand at the end of the War.
Major event wins Schools that have won the Maadi Cup:
As of the 2026 event, 17 schools have won the Maadi Cup. +RankNameTitlesYears1Whanganui Collegiate School171952, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1985, 1986, 2000, 2001, 20042Christ's College131988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2018, 20213Hamilton Boys' High School121970, 1987, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 20244Mt Albert Grammar School81947, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 19615Tauranga Boys' College71978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1994, 19976=Westlake Boys' High School41976, 1983, 1984, 20256=King's College41953, 1959, 1960, 20268=Wanganui Technical School21949, 19508=Auckland Grammar School21992, 20118=St Paul's Collegiate22002, 20038=St Bede's College21991, 202312=Fraser High School1197512=Sacred Heart College1194812=New Plymouth Boys' High School1196212=Whanganui High School1197212=St Andrew's College1201712=Christchurch Boys' High School 12019 Springbok Shield (BU184+) The Springbok Shield is the prize for the boys' under 18 coxed four. It was instigated in 1964 by Mr Cecil Purvis who was visiting South Africa at the time and met with members of the Johannesburg youth rowing community. After much discussion the Springbok Shield eventuated. The Shield is made from segments of all the woods from South Africa and was first rowed for in 1965 when it was won by Hamilton Boys' High School.
As of the 2026 event, 19 schools have won the Springbok Shield. +RankNameTitlesYears1Hamilton Boys' High School171965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2018, 20242Tauranga Boys' College81979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1994, 19973Christ's College61988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 20164Westlake Boys' High School51982, 1991, 1993, 2002, 20255Whanganui Collegiate School41966, 1977, 1985, 20046St Paul's Collegiate32000, 2003, 20157=Fairfield College21968, 19707=St Andrew's College21983, 20177=Christchurch Boys' High School21999, 20197=Auckland Grammar School22011, 20217=King's College21992, 202612=Rongotai College1196712=Whanganui High School1197512=Otumoetai College1197812=Wellington College1200112=Marlborough Boys' College1201212=Napier Boys' High School1201412=Mt Albert Grammar School1202212=St Bede's College12023 Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (GU188+) The Levin Cup is awarded to the winner of the girls' under 18 eight. In 1981 the Maadi Regatta was held on Lake Horowhenua. That year the Levin Borough Council was holding its 75th Jubilee. The mayor, Jack Bolderson, decided that a fitting memorial would be for a cup for the girls senior eight. The inaugural winner was Wanganui Girls College.http://www.schoolrowing.org.nz/nzssra.php?page=x5w
As of the 2026 event, 11 schools have won the Levin 75th Jubilee Cup. +RankNameTitlesYears1Rangi Ruru Girls' School181991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2021, 2022, 20232St Margaret's College82001, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 20253Waikato Diocesan School42002, 2011, 2014, 20264=Whanganui Girls' College31981, 1984, 19854=Marlborough Girls' College31986, 1987, 19886=Whanganui High School21982, 19836=Westlake Girls' High School21989, 19906=Diocesan School for Girls22016, 20179=Wanganui Collegiate School120069=St Peter's School, Cambridge120189=Christchurch Girls' High School12024 Dawn Cup (GU184+) The Dawn Cup is awarded to the winner of the girls' under 18 coxed four. At the Maadi Regatta of 1980 held on the Wairoa River, a cup was donated by Noel Lynch for the Girls Under 18 Four. On finals day, officials were unable to keep to time and by dark, the Boys Under 17 Eight and the Girls Under 18 Four had not been rowed. These races were then scheduled to be held at 6:30 am Sunday morning (no daylight saving). Because of this, Noel Lynch and Enoka Macdonald decided this trophy should be called the Dawn Cup and it was first won by Queen Charlotte College.
As of the 2026 event, 16 schools have won the Dawn Cup. +RankNameTitlesYears1Rangi Ruru Girls' School181990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022, 2023, 2025, 20262Westlake Girls' High School41989, 1991, 2002, 20143=Whanganui High School31982, 1983, 19853=St Margaret's College32004, 2006, 20133=St Peter's School, Cambridge32011, 2012, 20183=Waikato Diocesan School32015, 2019, 20247=Marlborough Girls' College21987, 19887=Gisborne Girls' High School21996, 20009=Queen Charlotte College119809=Te Awamutu College119819=Nayland College119849=Whanganui Girls' College119869=Sacred Heart Girls College120059=Diocesan School for Girls120169=St Paul's Collegiate120179=Christchurch Girls' High School12021 Star Trophy Since 1997, the Star Trophy is the prize awarded to the top overall school at the Regatta, and therefore come to denote the top rowing school in New Zealand. The Star trophy was donated by Star Boating Club, which it is named after. The award is determined on a points basis: schools winning events get 5 points, runners up get 3 points, and third place-getters get one point.
As of the 2026 event, 7 schools have won the Star Trophy +RankNameTitlesYears1Rangi Ruru Girls' School101997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2021, 2022, 20232Hamilton Boys' High School82005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 20243St Margaret's College42001, 2002, 2003, 20044St Peter's School, Cambridge32012, 2016, 20185Waikato Diocesan School22011, 20266=Christchurch Boys' High School120196=Kings College12025 Executive Trophy Since 2003, the Executive Trophy is the prize awarded to the top overall school in sweep-oar events (i.e. pairs, fours and eights) at the Regatta.
As of the 2026 event, 5 schools have won the Executive Trophy. +RankNameTitlesYears1Hamilton Boys' High School112005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 20192Rangi Ruru Girls' School62010, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 20243St Margaret's College32003, 2004, 20124Waikato Diocesan School22011, 20265Kings College12025 Presidents Scull Since 2003, the Presidents Scull is the prize awarded to the top overall school in sculling events (i.e. singles, doubles and quads) at the Regatta.
As of the 2026 event, 13 schools have won the Presidents Scull. RankNameTitlesYears1St Peter's School, Cambridge8.52010, 2011, 2012 (tie), 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 20192Wakatipu High School4.52022, 2023, 2024 (tie), 2025, 20263Kavanaugh College1.52012 (tie), 20134=St Margaret's College120034=Queen Charlotte College120044=Whanganui High School120054=Marlborough Girls' College120064=Roncalli College120084=James Hargest College120094=Dunstan High School1202111=Nelson College0.52007 (tie)11=Hauraki Plains College0.52007 (tie)11=Cashmere High School0.52024 (tie)
Eligibility Rowers and coxswains in the Maadi Cup must be full-time students (at least 0.8 FTE) at a registered New Zealand school, and must be studying at secondary level (Year 9 or above). They must also have a satisfactory school attendance record, in the opinion of the school's principal, in order to participate.
The regatta is split into four age classification: under 15, under 16, under 17, and under 18. Only students who are under the specified age at 1 January preceding the regatta may compete in that class. For example, a student who is aged 15 on 1 January may compete in the under 16, under 17 and under 18 classifications, but not the under 15 classification.
Females may cox male boats, and vice versa. The minimum weight for coxswains is 55 kg for all events at the regatta. Lightweight events used to be part of the regatta but were banned in 2016 following health concerns of the teenage athletes.
In mid-2007, the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council introduced a quota system restricting the number of new-to-school and international students a school can field at national championships, including the Maadi Cup, in an aim to reduce top sporting schools "poaching" athletes from other schools. A new-to-school student is a student who has enrolled at the school in the 24 months prior to the event, excluding students who enrolled at the school in Year 9 or below. An international student is a student who is not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, or the holder of a New Zealand resident visa or domestic-endorsed student visa. For eights, no more than three crew members that are classified as a new-to-school or international students are permitted per boat, with no more than two crew members being international students. For all other events, no more than one crew member that is classified as a new-to-school or international student is permitted per boat.
At a special general meeting held on 24 January 2025, the New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Associations (NZSSRA) voted to ban year 14 rowers from competing at Maadi regattas, unless an exemption has been granted.
Events As of 2026 Under 15 Under 16 Under 17Under 18 Under 18 Novice Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls BoysGirlsBoysGirlsBoys Single scull (1x) • • • ••• Pair (2−) • ••• Double scull (2x) • • • • • ••••• Coxed four (4+) • • • • • ••••• Coxed quad scull (4x+) • • • • • ••••• Eight (8+) • • • • • ••••• Octuple scull (8x+) • •
Participation The Maadi Cup regatta regularly has over 2000 competitors from over 100 schools competing