AIMS Games
 | |
| Motto | "Be brave, be strong but always be humble in the world of sports" |
|---|---|
| First event | 2004 17 schools, approximately 760 competitors |
| Purpose | Youth sports competition promoting skill development, sportsmanship and community |
| Headquarters | Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Chairperson | Henk Popping |
| Website | Zespri Aims Games |
The AIMS Games (Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools) (Te Reo Māori: Ngā Taumāhekeheke AIMS), currently branded as Zespri AIMS Games, is an annual multi-sport event held in Tauranga, New Zealand. The tournament attracted 166 schools in 2012,[1] with 2025 attracting more competitors than the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 14,022 competitors, 431 schools and 27 sporting codes, making it the biggest sporting event for children aged 11 to 13 years old in New Zealand and Australasia.[2]
History
[edit]The event began in 2004, with the founding schools being Mount Maunganui Intermediate, Otumoetai Intermediate, Tauranga Intermediate and Te Puke Intermediate.[3] The first game only included 4 sports—netball, football, cross country and hockey—with 17 schools and around 760 intermediate students participating.[4]
Since then, indoor bowls were added in 2011, followed by rugby league in 2012.[1] As of 2025, there are 27 sports for participants to compete in, with rugby league being replaced by rippa rugby.
In 2025, The Games was awarded the Best Non-Profit or Community Event at the New Zealand Event Awards.[5]
Economics
[edit]In 2016, the event generated $3 million for the local economy.[6] In 2019, the event returned $6.5 million.[7] In 2024, the event made $8.78 million.[8] This rate is expected to rise in the future.
Main sponsors
[edit]AIMS Games has been supported by many organisations throughout the years. In 2025, some of the sponsors include:
- Zespri
- Tauranga City Council
- Mercury Energy
- Bayfair Shopping Centre
- Mainfreight
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Sports
[edit]
The event currently has 27 sports, which are:
- Badminton
- Basketball (3x3 and 5 aside)
- BMX[3]
- Canoe racing
- Canoe slalom
- Cross country
- Football
- Futsal
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Gym sport
- Hip hop
- Hockey
- Indoor bowls
- Mountain biking
- Netball
- Orienteering
- Rippa rugby
- Rock climbing
- Rugby sevens
- Sailing[3]
- Squash[2]
- Swimming
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Water polo
Notable alumni
[edit]- Nathan Harris, played football
- Adam Milne, played football
References
[edit]- ^ a b Starting gun fires on AIMS games
- ^ a b "Zespri AIMS Games". www.nzaimsgames.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
- ^ a b c BMX added to NZCT AIMS games[permanent dead link]
- ^ "How have the AIMS Games evolved?". Kiwi Kids News.
- ^ "Aims Games wins top award at NZ Event Awards". Rotorua Daily Post. 3 September 2025.
- ^ AIMS Games injects $3m into Tauranga but more beds needed
- ^ Goile, Aaron (22 May 2020). "AIMS Games school sports tournament hangs in the balance". Waikato Times.
- ^ "AIMS Games 2025 record breaking tournament to get under way in Tauranga". NZ Herald.