News & Updates | Champions Initiative

News

Champions news and updates

Hastings Giants Boxing Academy

250 Donations for 250 Positive Stories

Get on board with our much need 2026 Fundraiser where your donation fits your heart and budget.

Development Events Unique to Champions

Jumping from practice to performance can be quite daunting, so CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE provides a steppingstone to full competition in the form of DEVELOPMENT EVENTS.

Outward Bound Opportunities at Champions Initiative

Champions Initiative enjoys a strong relationship with Outward Bound. But it's not just our youth members who can benefit from this relationship. Course opportunities are also offered to National staff and academy staff as part of their professional development. Paegan, Manager of Cannons Creek Boxing Academy shares her experience at Outward Bound on the Masters Course

250 Donations for 250 Positive Stories

Get on board with our much need 2026 Fundraiser where your donation fits your heart and budget.

Development Events Unique to Champions

Jumping from practice to performance can be quite daunting, so CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE provides a steppingstone to full competition in the form of DEVELOPMENT EVENTS.

Outward Bound Opportunities at Champions Initiative

Evalution Report 2025 shows Fantastic Feedback for All

Every single member who responded to the evaluation survey said their Champions Initiative Academy has made a positive difference in their life. Emphasis was given specifically to physical wellbeing, care and respect for others, sense of belonging, self-belief/confidence, and friendships. This is worth celebrating!

September 23, 2025

Passionate and Community Focused Manager Needed

The Naenae Boxing Academy has a vacancy for a full-time manager. If you are passionate about our rangatahi, and community focused read more!

September 17, 2025

Zakir Yusof - From Refugee to National Champion

Whenever Wellington teenager Zakir Yusof steps inside the boxing ring, he is determined to make proud all those who have supported his journey from refugee to national champion.Born in Afghanistan but raised in neighbouring Pakistan, Yusof arrived in New Zealand in 2017 with his mother and two brothers. He couldn’t speak English and spent his first weeks in a refugee camp, where he met his father for the first time--he had left when Zakir was a baby to try to build a better life for the family.

June 8, 2025

Creating Leadership Pathways with the Champions Initiative Outward Bound Scholarship

Outward Bound and Champions Initiative have a long-standing relationship, dating back more than 10 years. More recently, the partnership has seen the formation of a unique scholarship.

April 23, 2025

Luke Herries

At the Hastings Giants Boxing Academy there are plenty of incredible kids to be inspired by. One of them is 17-year-old Luke Herries, who had struggled through his teenage years before joining the academy a year ago. Read more to learn where Luke is now......

Partnership with NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport

We are excited to announce a unique partnership between Champions Initiative and the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport. This world class training facility in Upper Hutt, that hosts world class athletes, will now be a Champions Initiative national training base. Youth boxers from across our Champion Partner academies will come together for training camps in this outstanding high performance facility.

Logan

At the time, I wasn’t sure where I stood in life. I wasn’t happy, I barely left my house, and I was struggling mentally. I don’t know if it was the release of emotions when I cried in someone’s arms halfway through sparring, but I didn’t realize how much weight I was carrying. I wasn’t crying because I was physically in pain, but because of everything mentally. I ended up showing up early every day, excited to train hard and push myself. I loved the gym, helping the kids, and trying to get better.

October 17, 2024

Nate

Over 13 years ago there was an episode on the “Sunday” TVNZ program about Billy and the Naenae Boxing Academy – I was intrigued! I had also seen how some of the boys from school had become extremely fit and gained a really positive attitude from going to the gym. I went to sign up as soon as I could after that.

October 16, 2024

Lucan

The Academy has had a pretty massive impact on me, it makes me think of the consequences of my actions before I act. It’s made me like myself, who I am and are becoming as a person, and how I carry myself and act towards other people.

October 1, 2024

Saxon

I love boxing and I love the sport, but the thing that keeps me coming back is the community of the gym. A handshake, a smile, and a good conversation are guaranteed from every person you meet in the gym as you first enter.

Articles & Stories

Champions News
& Updates

Champions news and updates

250 Donations for 250 Positive Stories

Development Events Unique to Champions

Outward Bound Opportunities at Champions Initiative

250 Donations for 250 Positive Stories

Development Events Unique to Champions

Outward Bound Opportunities at Champions Initiative

Evalution Report 2025 shows Fantastic Feedback for All

Passionate and Community Focused Manager Needed

Zakir Yusof - From Refugee to National Champion

Creating Leadership Pathways with the Champions Initiative Outward Bound Scholarship

Luke Herries

Partnership with NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport

Logan

Nate

Lucan

Saxon

Support Us

Stay in our corner