Yachting New Zealand\u2019s R\u016aN\u0100 programme has added a major international accolade to its growing list of achievements, winning the Education and Training Award at the 2026 Sport Positive Awards.<\/p>\n
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The award, announced overnight, recognises R\u016aN\u0100 among a global field of programmes using sport to drive education, sustainability and environmental action.<\/p>\n
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Its success marks the programme\u2019s first major global award and provides further recognition of Yachting New Zealand\u2019s growing leadership in environmental education through sailing.<\/p>\n
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The Sport Positive Awards attracted a shortlist of more than 80 organisations and individuals from across the global sporting ecosystem, with 12 winners recognised across categories including biodiversity, community initiatives, research, leadership and education.<\/p>\n
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The independent judging panel described the Education and Training category as recognising programmes that deliver exemplary learning on climate change, sustainability, climate justice or biodiversity, with R\u016aN\u0100 recognised for its pioneering approach to working with students aged eight to 15, combining classroom learning, hands-on sailing and real-world environmental investigation in partnership with research organisations.<\/p>\n
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Founded in 2021 and delivered in partnership with schools, clubs and iwi, R\u016aN\u0100 uses sailing as an entry point for environmental learning. The programme blends sailing with marine science, renewable energy education and m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori, supporting students to move from awareness of environmental issues to active guardianship.<\/p>\n
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R\u016aN\u0100 has reached more than 25,500 students and 830 teachers through 21 sailing clubs.<\/p>\n
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Structured around three learning modules \u2014 Moanamana, K\u014dk\u014dkaha and K\u014drinorino \u2014 the initiative introduces students to marine monitoring and restoration, wind energy innovation, and local history and navigation knowledge. Together, these experiences are designed to build environmental literacy, practical capability and stronger connections to local coastal environments.<\/p>\n
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The programme has now reached more than 25,500 students and 830 teachers through 21 sailing clubs and is operating in two countries, with its international expansion beginning in Chile.<\/p>\n
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R\u016aN\u0100 was shortlisted alongside major international sporting organisations and institutions including the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), World Taekwondo, UEFA and European football clubs, Golf Ireland, Columbia University and the Sheffield United Community Foundation.<\/p>\n
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Yachting New Zealand chief executive Steve Armitage said the recognition was a significant achievement for everyone involved in R\u016aN\u0100.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWinning against international federations and institutions of that calibre is hugely impressive,\u201d Armitage said. \u201cThe award is particularly significant because it provides independent international validation of R\u016aN\u0100 and Yachting New Zealand\u2019s environmental leadership, while also highlighting the clubs\u2019 contribution to delivering the programme on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Armitage paid special tribute to Yachting New Zealand education lead Alisa Torgersen, as well as founding partner Dean Stanley and Sally Carson, director of the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre at the University of Otago, who partners with Yachting New Zealand to deliver the Moanamana module.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAlisa\u2019s leadership and commitment have helped develop R\u016aN\u0100 into what it is today,\u201d Armitage said. \u201cThis recognition is a direct reflection of her leadership and commitment to driving the programme forward. It also reflects the work of the clubs, teachers, research partners and volunteers who bring it to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The global recognition comes just months after R\u016aN\u0100 claimed the Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2026 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.<\/p>\n
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That award recognised the programme\u2019s evolution from an initiative designed to increase access to sailing into a national ocean education programme connecting young people with sailing, science, m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori and kaitiakitanga.<\/p>\n
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The programme has also begun its international expansion, with the first overseas implementation established at Colegio Puerto Varas in Chile\u2019s Lake District and further opportunities being explored.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yachting New Zealand\u2019s R\u016aN\u0100 programme has added a major international accolade to its growing list of achievements, winning…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":623322,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69,223319,223320,223321],"class_list":["post-623321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-nz-sailing","tag-yachting-new-zealand","tag-ynz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=623321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/623322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=623321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=623321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=623321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}