Proudly celebrating 20 years of partnership with Rowing New Zealand.
Rowing NZ is the national sports organisation for rowing in New Zealand, fostering and promoting rowing in all forms.
In 2024, our relationship with Rowing NZ reached an exciting milestone – together celebrating two decades of partnership that has seen Aon fulfil an ongoing and successful legacy of assisting young New Zealanders as they strive for success in the sport of rowing, encouraging the next generation of talent for future New Zealand representatives.
Our shared vision and dedication are shown through our active involvement in various initiatives that support and nurture rowing talent across New Zealand - among these is our steadfast commitment to the Aon Maadi Regatta, the Aon Emerging Schools Scholarship, and the prestigious Laszlo Skiff giveaway.
2024 winner of the Aon Emerging School Rowing Scholarship.
Congratulations to Wainuiomata High School in Wellington, winners of the 2024 Aon Emerging School Rowing Scholarship. Wainuiomata High School have received $5,000 to support their rowing programme expenses.
Watch: What receiving this scholarship means for Wainuiomata High School and how it has opened new opportunities for their rowing programme and the students involved.
Gordon Milne is a first-year teacher at Wainuiomata High School and his love for rowing inspired him to introduce the sport to his students and the school - hoping his efforts will ultimately teach students important life skills through the nature of the sport. Gordon applied for the grant to help with regatta and membership fees.
“It’s probably the reason we can have a full season - I didn’t want cost to be a barrier for the students. My goal for the students would be multiple seasons competing at local regattas. Perhaps Maadi, down the track. They have come a long way, they turn up regularly and enjoy it which is the main thing.” Gordon Milne, Wainuiomata High School
The annual Aon Emerging Schools Scholarship financially supports a school that has a rowing programme in its infancy, aiming to break down barriers to make rowing accessible to all schools.
2024 Aon Maadi Regatta
The annual Aon Maadi Regatta is the largest secondary school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere.
This year it took place on mighty Lake Ruataniwha and was attended by secondary school students across New Zealand.
Maadi by the numbers:
• 104 school
• 2128 rowers, plus 155 reserves
• 33 schools taking home a national title
• 52% of schools making the winners podium
• 341 lunches served in the Aon + Rowing NZ marque over 4 days
• 2 Aon Laszlo Legacy skiffs given away
• Too many Aon Maadi Moments captured to count!
Watch: the 2024 Aon Maadi Regatta Highlights
The Aon Laszlo Legacy was in full swing again at the 2024 Aon Maadi Regatta.
Underscoring the tireless determination of the athletes that participate at the Aon Maadi Regatta and to support their schools, we partnered with Laszlo Boats to provide two brand-new, world-class Laszlo Single Skiff boats to each of the female and male winners of the Under 17 Single Scull events.
The Under 17 race was chosen because it provides the opportunity for any school in New Zealand to win.
At the 2024 Aon Maadi Regatta, we proudly presented the 11th and 12th Laszlo Single Skiff boats to Olivia Tattersfield from Mount Albert Grammar School and Ben Allan from Timaru Boys’ High School.
Photo credits: Winners of the 2024 Aon Laszlo Legacy Signle Skiff boats - Olivia Tattersfield, Mount Albert Grammar School and Ben Allan, Timaru Boys’ High School.
Thank you to Laszlo Boats NZ for partnering with us. Find out more about Laszlo Boats here: laszloboatsnz.com