New Zealand Football has won big at the 2026 Diversity Awards, taking home two gongs.
The country’s governing body for football won the He Ara Māori Tohu – Cultural Competence Award, which recognised organisations that attempt to actively build cultural knowledge and skills, demonstrate cultural humility and intelligence by attemptingto learn about, respect and apply cultural understanding in their work.
NZ Football has tried to make football the most inclusive sport in New Zealand by putting in several initiatives, such as an iwi-led “Call to the Field” which has been introduced to welcome teams at international matches.
Ninety % of staff have participated in te reo Māori and Te Tiriti workshops while regular waiata and karakia were also introduced, and targeted programmes have helped to increase participation for Māori who have seen numbers lift 9% from 2024.
The organisation supported a range of programmes and events in its partnership with Māori Football Aotearoa, its statutes were changed to include Te Tiriti commitments into organisational decision-making and te ao Māori are a key factor in NZ Football’s strategy and values.
Maretha Smit, Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion chief executive, said NZ Football’s work in these areas has helped to build foundations for change.
New Zealand Football took home two top prizes from the 2026 Diversity Awards. Photo / Photosport
“What stood out for our judges was the depth of partnership and co-creation, ensuring that Māori are not only included but are actively shaping the direction of the organisation,” Smit said.
“This positions New Zealand Football as a leading example of how national bodies can meaningfully respond to Te Tiriti obligations while strengthening identity and performance.”
NZ Football won the Supreme Award later in the ceremony and CEO Andrew Pragnell was excited to have taken home some of the top awards.
“We are thrilled to accept these awards from Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion, it shows we’re on the right track although there’s still a lot of mahi to do before we achieve our targets,” Pragnell said.
“By 2035 we want to increase participation across the country, aiming for 60,000 new female footballers, 14,000 new Māori footballers and 22,000 new players of Pasifika and Asian backgrounds.
“Our mahi and how we look to the future is aligned around our strategic objectives, which includes making football the most inclusive sport in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
