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Mangawhai Beach School (MBS) is celebrating one of its most successful years of competing at the Zespri AIMS Games.
The 44 students who attended the weeklong event in Tauranga from September 5 to 11 competed in nine different codes, including football, surfing, mountain biking, orienteering and hip-hop dancing.
Now in its 22nd year, the Zespri AIMS Games 2026 attracted a record 14,506 intermediate and middle school students from 467 schools in New Zealand and overseas, competing across 27 sporting codes.
MBS deputy principal Emma Grieve praised the students, coaches and team managers whose weeks of hard work and training paid off.
“This was a huge achievement, with adrenaline and competitive spirits running high. The managers were absolute stars, being proactive and fantastic to work with. The coaches were dedicated, running regular practices and delivering our best year ever for MBS in the placings.
“Most importantly, our students embodied the school and our CREW values every step of the way.”
The school’s leading result came in orienteering, where Year 7 students Cameron Brown, Gaby Whitaker and Crush Hutchings placed second in the rogaine team event at McLaren Falls Park, earning the trio a silver medal.
The school’s cross-country runners also impressed, finishing 12th in the relay, only seconds behind St Kentigern Boys’ School.
Surfer Leo Lund represented the school in challenging one-to-two-foot onshore conditions. Although he missed out on a quarter-final place, the school praised his determination and sportsmanship.
The boys’ football team recorded a win, a draw and two losses during the early stages of the tournament before going on to finish 26th overall.
MBS’s eight-member hip-hop crew placed 23rd out of 48 teams, putting it in the top half of the competition despite facing teams of up to 12 dancers.
“This is easily the best part of my job, watching our students thrive in what, for the vast majority, will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 14,506 athletes, 23,000 accompanying people, 27 sports and our wee crew from MBS,” Grieve says.
