National body New Zealand Football have been nominated for the Cultural Competence Award at the 2026 Diversity Awards NZ.
This award recognises organisations that have gone beyond awareness to actively build cultural knowledge and skills, demonstrating cultural humility and intelligence by making the effort to learn about, respect, and apply cultural understanding in their work.
The winners will be announced at a dinner at Auckland’s Pullman Hotel on Tuesday May 5, 2026, as part of the Whiria Ngā Kaha Workplace Inclusion Aotearoa conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
NZ Football say they have been on a significant journey to build their cultural capacity in recent years, aligned with a strategic objective to make football the most inclusive sport in the country.
Through a range of initiatives, within the organisation and across the sport, NZ Football say the changes include:
90% of staff have undertaken te reo Māori and Te Tiriti workshops, with regular waiata and karakia introduced.
An iwi-led Call to the Field has been introduced to welcome teams at all international games.
Targeted programmes have been introduced to drive participation for Māori, with 8,947 registered players, up 9% from 2024.
A partnership with Māori Football Aotearoa has been signed to support programmes, events, and build capacity.
NZ Football statutes have been amended to incorporate Te Tiriti commitments into organisational decision-making.
Te ao Māori concepts are deeply embedded in the organisation’s new strategy and values.
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said: “Driving the organisation, and the football system as a whole, to build cultural competency has been a key strategic objective for us, so while it is great to be recognised with a nomination like this, the real value has been the impact this work has had on the game.
“Te ao Māori is not only unique to Aotearoa but represents a knowledge base to learn from and build strength from.
“While we still have work to do, we strive to deliver a game that authentically reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa and showcases it to the world.”
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This story was first published on May 5, 2026.