Masters Games 2025: Whanganui ready to host 4000 athletes over 10 days

Work on the construction of the Masters Games Village in Majestic Square is already under way. Photo / Eva de Jong

Construction of the village for the 2025 Downer New Zealand Masters Games has begun with the event bringing thousands to Whanganui next month.

Over the 10-day event, tournaments will be held in 64 different sports, with the Games Village erected at the War Memorial Centre forecourt.

So far, more than 3500 people have registered for the Games with over 4000 people expected to take part in the competition.

“The Masters Games are a fantastic way to showcase Whanganui as a destination to live and visit,” Masters Games manager Heather Cox said.

“We’ve put close to 12 months of work in putting these games together, so once they start and you see people participating it’s a really good feeling.”

Building of the Games Village started on Tuesday, with Scafit constructing a large tent to cover a stage and dance floor for visitors.

An entertainment line-up of local and out-of-town performers throughout the 10 days will feature popular New Zealand musician Troy Kingi performing on February 5.

The Games aren’t only reserved for older athletes, with 20 sports open for 20- to 29-year-olds. Each sport has a different starting age set by the sport’s organiser.

Four new sports this year are mini putt, golf croquet, trail running and rink hockey.

Cox said a fan favourite was jigsaw racing, with an initial 30 spots selling out in the first week.

Pickleball has also grown in popularity, with all of the spots almost sold out.

This year will also see the return of weightlifting, triathlon and duathlon to the programme.

Cox said participants were encouraged to be aware of the risks and to only enter sports they feel confident to participate in safely.

She said it was impressive seeing some of the older 80+ athletes who had kept themselves in a strong enough physical condition to compete.

“It’s quite nostalgic for a lot of people, there’s a lot of younger people coming through, but for the older people they’ve got those long standing memories on the sportsfield.”

Registrations are still open for the 2025 Masters Games and can be made on the New Zealand Masters Games website.

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.