A spectacular Twizel morning greeted crews and supporters for the final day of the 2026 Aon Maadi Regatta, with King's College ending a 66-year drought to win the coveted Maadi Cup in a performance for the ages.
After a day of intermittent rain, sunhats and shorts replaced umbrellas as perfect conditions prevailed on Lake Ruataniwha for the culmination of the New Zealand secondary school rowing championships. The electric atmosphere on the bank was matched by the heart-stopping action on the water, with Hamilton-area schools featuring prominently on the podium.
Hamilton crews haul in medals
The Waikato region has plenty to celebrate, with several local schools securing top honours. Sacred Heart Girls' College (Hamilton) demonstrated the depth of their novice programme, with a second gold medal in as many days. After winning the Under 18 Novice Double Sculls, Jade and Casey Paki joined Madeline Moore, Tegan Smith and cox Holly Gera to storm home in the Under 18 Novice Coxed Quadruple Sculls.
The victory was a surreal moment for the crew in their first Maadi campaign. "When we got to the 100 metres to go, I told the girls it was our race, push for our squad," says cox Holly Gera. "It feels pretty unreal to win a gold medal in my first Maadi, it hasn’t sunk in yet".
Not to be outdone, Hamilton Boys’ High School delivered a dominant performance to take their first gold of the regatta, winning the Boys Under 16 Coxed Eight in a blistering time of 6:07.60, well ahead of King’s College and St Peter’s College.
Hamilton Girls’ High School’s Ayla Klein also secured a hard-fought bronze in the prestigious Girls Under 18 Single Sculls, while George Benjamin of St Paul’s Collegiate School claimed silver in the corresponding boys' event, capping a successful regatta for the region's athletes.
King's College makes history
The marquee event, the Boys Under 18 Coxed Eight for the Maadi Cup, delivered the day's most significant storyline. King’s College, chasing their first title in this event in 66 years, produced a race of stunning power and control. Having won the Springbok Shield the previous day, the Auckland crew exploded from the start, establishing a commanding lead by the halfway mark.
While King's extended their lead to clear water, a fierce battle for the minor medals raged behind them. Auckland Grammar and Hamilton Boys’ High School traded blows through the middle of the course, before a late charge from St Bede’s College saw them surge into contention.
In the final sprint, Auckland Grammar held on for silver, with St Bede’s claiming bronze. But the day belonged to King’s College, who crossed the line in 6:11.26, finally breaking the long-standing hoodoo and etching their names into the history of the Maadi Regatta.
I am so pleased with the boys, we’ve worked so hard for this moment, we’ve been through an insane journey together. This is my last Maadi and it’s just an insane way to end it, winning the Springbok Shield and now the Maadi Cup, all the boxes are ticked.
Miller says the crew executed their strategy perfectly. "Our plan was to get out fast at the start and control the race from start to finish and we managed to do just that. When I called for it I called for another seat was taken, we just did that on repeat. Coming into the last 250 it was just 1% more every stroke on the legs and that just carried us down to the line".
A historic finale for women's rowing
In a landmark moment for the regatta’s 79-year history, the final race of the week was the Girls Under 18 Coxed Eight, racing for the Levin Jubilee Cup. It marked the first time the girls' premier eight has been the closing event, a significant step for gender equity in the sport.
Adding to the occasion, the race was overseen entirely by a female officiating crew, from the on-water umpires to the boat drivers. “It’s quite a privilege that, with the Levin Jubilee Cup being the final race of the day for the first time in Maadi Regatta history, the umpires and boat drivers will be all female,” says Race Umpire Michele Hawke.
On the water, Waikato Diocesan shot out of the blocks, setting a blistering pace and establishing early control. They were closely pursued by Rangi Ruru, with St Margaret’s College also in the hunt as the crews powered down the course, spurred on by thousands of supporters lining the banks. The race provided a fittingly thrilling conclusion to a week of intense competition, celebrating the pinnacle of girls' school rowing.
The regatta showcased not only immense talent across all age groups but also the profound community and school spirit that defines the event. From dominant three-peats by Cashmere High School in the Girls Under 18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls to the emotional first-ever medals for other schools, the week at Lake Ruataniwha will be long remembered.
The success of the all-female officiating team in the final race sets a new benchmark for sporting events in New Zealand and abroad, providing a powerful image of progress and leadership to close out the historic regatta.
