As the largest junior sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere, the Zespri AIMS Games is proud to welcome students from around the world. We believe that sport is a universal language - one that brings people together, celebrates diversity, and builds lifelong connections.

Every year in Aotearoa New Zealand, something extraordinary unfolds. More than 14,000 young athletes - aged 11 to 13, determined, talented, and dreaming big - come together for the Zespri AIMS Games, Australasia’s largest multi‑code youth sporting festival. In both 2024 and 2025, the number of athletes competing at the event surpassed participation numbers at the Olympic Games, creating a truly remarkable stage for emerging talent.

For one unforgettable week, Tauranga becomes a place where cultures meet, friendships are made, and the next generation of sporting champions are born. Across 27 sporting codes, the Games offer not only a celebration of youth sport, but elite competition - a rare opportunity for emerging athletes to test themselves against the very best from across Australasia and beyond. It’s where races are won by fractions, where teamwork becomes instinct, and where young people learn what they are truly capable of.

Pōhiri for International Athletes​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Our international delegations bring a special vibrancy to the event. They enrich the Games with new perspectives, new styles of play, and new stories that become part of our shared legacy. We take great care to ensure every visiting team feels welcomed, supported, and woven into the AIMS Games whānau from the moment they arrive.

To warmly welcome our international athletes to Aotearoa, we are honoured to host a traditional Māori pōhiri (welcome ceremony) at Tauranga Intermediate School on Saturday, 5th September 2026.

We kindly ask that all international athletes registered for the 2026 Zespri AIMS Games attend this special event, where they will be formally welcomed to Tauranga Moana.