After very careful consideration, we have decided that the Long Distance event at Nationals 2026 will no longer be a World Ranking Event (WRE). It has proved impossible to set courses of the technical level required for a WRE event whilst keeping the extensive fence network on the maps for red courses, especially for the […]

The 2026 Mountain Bike Orienteering World Championships (WMTBOC) and the Junior World Championships (JWMTBOC), will be hosted in Mora, Sweden, 24-30 August 2026. This event is also Round 2 of the CX80 MTB Orienteering World Cup organised by The Swedish Orienteering Federation and IFK Mora Orienteering Club . There will be no specific trial event in […]

Just shy of his 93rd birthday, the stopwatch has run out for our beloved club member, active, gentle, Ian Miles Holden, known in the orienteering world as a very accomplished runner, passionate orienteer & ‘human gazelle’. Less known, probably, was his involvement as ‘Tuatara’ volunteer track builder, stonemason & gardener of The Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, […]

UPDATE 28/3/26 – The WUOC and EYOC Teams have been finalised. The JWOC Women’s Team is currently subject to an appeal so remains provisional while the JWOC Men’s Team has been finalised. UPDATE 23/3/26 – In accordance with the ONZ Team Selections Appeals Policy, the convenor of selectors was contacted to discuss team selection within 48hrs […]

Update 29/3/26 – The Senior Selection Panel has approved the addition of Zefa Fa’avae and Felix Hunt to the team. The Orienteering New Zealand Senior Selection Panel has named the following athletes to attend Round 2 of the Orienteering World Cup in Skara-Lidköping, Sweden from 28-31 May 2026. Women Rachel Baker, Wellington Georgia Lindroos, Auckland […]

The second round of the 2026 IOF World Cup will be held in Skara-Lidköping, Sweden from 28-31 May 2026. The programme will consist of a sprint, knock-out and sprint relay. New Zealand is entitled to enter up to 8 men and 8 women in all individual competitions and up to 4 teams in the sprint […]

This year Orienteering NZ has partnered with Sport NZ to take part in the Voice of Participant Survey. The intent of the survey is to understand how we are tracking as a sport – what we are doing well, and what needs more work. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. We ask people 14 and […]

This isn’t just another Nationals – it’s a chance to explore brand-new terrain that has been in the pipeline for a very long time. Come and reconnect with orienteers around the country for map maxxing. Standard entry fees apply up until midnight 15th March. We’d love to see you there! Head to the entries  

Canberra welcomes you to Namadgi National Park. The event then moves to Orana School, a fun, compact campus, perfect for the ASOC competitors to demonstrate their speedy sprint techniques. From there, competitors climb to the panoramic heights of Mount Ainslie, before navigating along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Pine Island and then tackle the technical […]

PAPO welcomes all those new to the sport as well as experienced school-aged orienteers to the NZ Secondary School Orienteering Champs in July.  As usual, will have a family-friendly atmosphere and there will be public races for all other family members, so make time to come to Christchurch. Entries will open in late March.  NZ Secondary […]

There is a High Performance Orienteering Pre Nationals Camp being held in the Palmerston North area from Saturday the 28th of March to Monday the 30th of March. The plan is ideally 6 training sessions, 2 each day. 1x sprint, 2x forest relay focussed training, 3x skills-based Forest Training. The camp is aimed at all […]

ONZ is happy to announce this year’s Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) Management Team. JWOC takes place in  in  Karlskrona, Sweden, 29 June to 4 July 2026.  Yvette Baker has been appointed as the team manager with Tane Cambridge and Renee Beveridge as coaches. 

Magnus Bengtsson has been appointed as New Zealand Manager of the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) being held Genova, Italy from 6-11 July 2026. Magnus, who is currently based in Sweden, has been Assistant Team Manager in 2024 & 2025 and is a former ONZ Board Member.

The World University Orienteering Championships (WUOC) take place in Vila Real, Portugal, 28 July to 1 August 2026. Orienteering. Orienteering New Zealand (ONZ) is inviting applications for both Coach and Manager Positions.  These positions would suit someone who intends to travel to the event. ONZ has not allocated a budget to these roles so applicants would […]

Nelson and Marlborough Orienteering Clubs are hosting the Taitonga – Southern Regional Orienteering Championships at Labour Weekend from the 24 to 26 October 2026. The following embargoes come into effect as of 1 March 2026. At this stage, we are still confirming access and personnel so please do not book any accommodation in case of a […]

The area of Woodhill Forest depicted in the image on the right is strictly embargoed. It is also private property, and unauthorized access will potentially result in orienteering losing its access to the entire Woodhill Forest.

The Orienteering New Zealand Senior Selection Panel has named the following athletes to attend Round 1 of the Orienteering World Cup in Locarno Ascona, Switzerland, from 24-26 April 2026. Women Laura Robertson, Hutt Valley Penelope Salmon, Auckland Men Ed Cory-Wright, Peninsula and Plains Tommy Hayes, Auckland Teams are subject to the ONZ Appeals Policy

This September, experience the thrill of navigating Canberra’s bushlands like never before! Competitors will trace ancient paths shaped by migration, landscape, and time. The journey begins in the rugged bushland of Namadgi National Park,then moves to Orana School, a fun, compact campus, perfect for the ASOC competitors to demonstrate their speedy sprint techniques. From there, competitors climb to […]

Early Bird entries will be 10% off if entered before 15 February 2026. Standard entry fees above apply up until midnight 15 March. After 15 March, late entry fees apply with a a 50% increase until entries close at midnight on 24 March. Sorry, no entries will be accepted after 24 March.https://ochamps.nz/entries/ #orienteeringchamps #entriesopen #enternow […]

Update 24 Feb 2026 – Magnus Bengtsson appointed WOC Manager Update 9 Feb 2026 – Team Confirmed (no longer provisional) with one spot to be decided. The Orienteering New Zealand Senior Selection Panel has named the following athletes to attend the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) in Genova, Italy, from 6–11 July 2026. The remaining men’s […]

This update supersedes the previous JWOC Selection notice posted 19 November The Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) 2026 are scheduled to be held in Karlskrona, Sweden from 29 June – 4 July 2026. JWOC will consist of individual Sprint, Middle, and Long distance races, a Sprint Relay and a Forest Relay. Classes are: New Zealand […]

The first round of the 2026 IOF World Cup will be held in Ascona-Locano, Switzerland from24-26 April 2026. The programme will consist of a sprint, knock-out and sprint relay. New Zealand is entitled to enter up to 8 men and 8 women in all individual competitions andup to 4 teams in the sprint relay. Selection […]

Both Robbie and Val Robinson say they feel overwhelmed and deeply honoured to have been appointed MNZM in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours for their services to orienteering and the wider community. The ceremony will be held in April at Government House in Auckland, conveniently falling between the National Championships and the North Island […]

Oceania Sprint Knockout  | Sat 24 JanuaryIt was a flying start for the kiwis escaping NZ fickle summer weather for some warm sprint urban running in the NSW coastal area. The morning’s knockout qualification and quarter final sprints were based at St Peters College, Tuggerah, and the afternoon venue for the knockout semi-final and the […]

A short wait for entries to open after a long wait to see this terrain, and Wellington club members are buzzing with excitement. The Coonoor area is a striking contrast to the sand dune terrain they usually compete on. As Russell Higham describes it, this is true limestone country, featuring rocky outcrops, large depressions, and […]

Even though New Caledonia is located 16,100 km (10,000 mi) from Metropolitan France – it is formally part of the French Republic. This has previously prevented New Caledonians from podium positions at Oceania. That has now changed!  The IOF Council has approved the recognition of New Caledonia as a Recognised Territorial Body, effective immediately, as recorded […]

This year Orienteering NZ has partnered with Sport NZ to take part in the Voice of Participant Survey. The intent of the survey is to understand how we are tracking as a sport – what we are doing well, and what needs more work. The data produced will be used by ONZ to inform priorities. […]

The following athletes have expressed interest in selection for the 2026 World Orienteering Championships (WOC) team:. Women Renee Beveridge Kaia Jorgensen Georgia Lindroos Amber Riddle Laura Robertson Penelope Salmon Briana Steven Zara Stewart Zara Toes Men Nathan Borton Tommy Hayes Felix Hunt Jakob Knoef Joseph Lynch Tim Robertson Kieran Woods Athletes are reminded that any […]

Orienteering New Zealand’s (ONZ) Board is responsible for the governance of our sport at a national level. Elected Board members serve three-year terms that start and finish at Annual General Meetings. Collectively the Board decides on national priorities and the resources needed to achieve them. For more on the responsibilities of the Board please feel […]

New Zealand and Australia will compete in an Elite Test Match as part of the Oceania Sprint Orienteering Championships, held from 24 to 26 January on the Central Coast, NSW. The NZ Senior Selection panel has named the following team: Knock Out Sprint Men Nathan Borton Felix Hunt Joseph Lynch Women Kaia Joergensen Georgia Lindroos […]