GIVE BACK AND WIN FOR YOUR SCHOOL IN 2025 WINNERS!!

Kaitiaki Trophy Winners:

This year’s Kaitiaki Trophy goes to local legends Bethlehem College, whose blue-and-red teams threw themselves into the coastal clean-up and tree planting, showing the true spirit of competition and kaitiakitanga.

In second place, St Andrew’s College from Christchurch continued its amazing commitment, taking part in the coastal clean-up for the third year running.

Third place went to Ōtāhuhu Intermediate, who got stuck in and made a huge contribution to the clean-up efforts.

Kaitiaki Trophy Results

1st – Bethlehem College

2nd – St Andrew’s College (Christchurch)

3rd – Ōtāhuhu Intermediate

Participation Award:

The Participation Award recognises the school that earns the most points per student, highlighting the incredible collective effort of their team.

This year’s winners were Parua Bay School from Whangārei for their outstanding involvement in the coastal clean-up.

Participation Award Results

1st – Parua Bay School (Whangārei)

2nd – Te Atatū Intermediate (Auckland)

3rd – Ōtāhuhu Intermediate (Auckland)

A huge thank you to all the schools who took part in the Give Back Games this year—you’ve made a real difference for our environment and community!

GIVE BACK AND WIN FOR YOUR SCHOOL IN 2025

Tauranga City Council’s Give Back Games are back, offering fun, meaningful ways to support your host city. Take part in a coastal clean-up, plant trees, rescue surplus kai with Good Neighbour, and help reduce landfill waste by using Boomerang Mugs. Plus, catch the dedicated free buses and travel sustainably throughout the week. 

Get involved, give back, and your school could be in to win! 

How to earn points for your school

It’s easy! Whether you're a coach, parent, or part of the support crew, you can help your school earn points by scanning a QR code at Give Back Games activities using your phone. Look out for the Give Back Games posters!

  • Catching the loop bus or the Opening Ceremony bus? Scan the QR code before boarding or while on the bus – every scan counts towards your school’s points.

  • Bringing a reusable cup to a coffee van? Look out for the Give Back Games poster at the stall and scan the code.

  • Taking part in the Coastal Clean-Up or Tree Planting?

    • Step 1: Register your school in advance using the links below.

    • Step 2: Scan the QR code on the day to earn points.

  • Food Rescue? The designated drop-off points will have a Give Back Games poster ready for you to scan

Competition runs Saturday 30 August to 2pm Friday 5 September.

COASTAL CLEAN-UP 

Protect our moana from rubbish and waste

The Coastal Clean-up is back! Join us at the beautiful Hopukiore (Mount Drury Reserve) in Mount Maunganui. We love seeing how passionate our athletes are about protecting Tauranga’s stunning beaches. Everything you’ll need on the day will be provided, just make sure you bring covered shoes.

There will also be spot prizes and a free BBQ!

You’re welcome to arrive any time during the event window and stay for as long as you like - every bit counts.

Tuesday, 2 September - 9.30am - 1.30pm
Hopukiore (Mount Drury) Reserve, Mount Maunganui.

Coastal Clean-up - Full

Thank you to all those schools who have registered. You would have received an email to confirm your spot.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

TREE PLANTING

Be part of a major restoration project

Dig in and help plant trees at Kōpurererua Valley! This 300-hectare wetland, once home to the people of Ngāi Tamarāwaho, is a place of deep cultural and ecological significance undergoing restoration. The tree planting day is your chance to get your hands in the earth and be part of that legacy. Everything you’ll need on the day will be provided, just make sure you bring covered shoes.

There will be spot prizes!

You’re welcome to arrive any time during the event window and stay for as long as you like - every bit counts.

Wednesday, 3 September - 10am - 2pm
Kōpūrererua Valley, Marshall’s Ave entrance, Tauranga

​​​​​​​

Tree Planting - Full

Thank you to all those schools who have registered. You would have received an email to confirm your spot.​​​​​​​

FOOD RESCUE STATIONS

Give surplus kai a second chance

If your team doesn’t get through all the kai you brought for the week, Tauranga City Council and their friends at Good Neighbour will have food rescue stations set up at some of the venues for you to drop off.

Good Neighbour will be at the following locations on Friday, 5 September

  • Blake Park: 12pm – 2pm

  • Gordon Spratt Reserve: 12pm – 2pm

  • Mercury Baypark: 12pm – 2pm

FREE BUSES

Park the car and ride sustainably

Tauranga will be buzzing with over 20,000 visitors! To help keep things moving, Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council are making it easy to travel sustainably with free buses throughout the week.

FREE ZESPRI AIMS GAMES LOOP BUSES

The Zespri AIMS Games loop buses are free for everyone in the community for the week of the Games (Monday, 1 September - Friday, 5 September).

Buses will run on a continuous 30-minute loop around these Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa bus stops:

  • Mount Hot Pools

  • Mount Mainstreet Shops

  • Blake Park

  • Baywave

  • Mercury Baypark – free parking area

  • Gordon Spratt Reserve – free parking area

FREE OPENING CEREMONY PARK AND RIDE BUSES

To help everyone get to the Zespri AIMS Games opening ceremonies, there will be dedicated park and ride buses running to and from Mercury Baypark. Park and ride locations for the Opening Ceremonies are at Gordon Spratt Reserve and Blake Park. 

Visit our bus page for all the info:

Scan the QR code to get 25 Give Back Games points each time you hop on the bus!

REUSABLE MUGS

Sip sustainably

Grabbing a coffee or hot drink from one of our vendors? Bring your own reusable mug – or, if you're at Blake Park, borrow one from the Zespri AIMS Games Boomerang Mug Station and simply return it when you're done. Simple, sustainable, and seriously good for the planet.

Scan the QR code to get 15 Give Back Games points when you get your coffee or hot drink.