Schools from throughout the Eastern Bay will be hoping to show off their best skills at the AIMS Games, which start on Saturday.

Futsal kicks off the competition, followed by an opening ceremony and cross-country races in what is promising to be an action-packed weekend.

Whakatāne Intermediate is the biggest competitors from the Eastern Bay with more than 210 athletes donning the school’s colours to compete in 22 sports, ranging from yachting and hockey to rock climbing and rippa rugby.

The AIMS Games began in 2004 with 750 athletes from 17 schools and has grown into a week-long spectacle, with more than 14,000 competitors from over 380 schools expected to descend on Tauranga.

It has become the biggest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world, attracting schools from as far away as Fiji and Australia.

The scale of the event means it is not only a major sporting highlight but a significant boost to the Bay of Plenty economy, injecting more than $6 million each year into the region, some of which trickles through to the Eastern Bay.

Whakatāne Intermediate’s squad is one of the biggest in its history.

Among the teams to watch will be the girls’ hockey side, coached by former Black Sticks player Lizzy Horlock, who alongside Samantha Byrne has guided the team to a string of titles across the Bay of Plenty.

Their biggest success this season has been winning the prestigious Super 11 Trophy, which brings together the top intermediate schools from the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay.

The school’s netball and rippa rugby teams, both known for their competitive spirit, are also expected to be strong contenders. Meanwhile, students will take part in newer and more diverse codes such as hip hop and rock climbing, a reflection of how the Games have expanded over the years to now host 25 sports.

A team that could surprise after as tough couple of seasons is the girls football team.

“Our school is really excited about this year’s competition,” said Will Doney, teacher in charge of AIMS for Whakatāne Intermediate.

“The kids, staff, and wider community have been working towards this event since term 1. They’ve put in the hard work, they’ve had some amazing results in warm-up tournaments, and 2025 is shaping up to be a year where many of our teams could really shine.

“Alongside our main sporting codes, we’ve got a raft of others where our students are looking to upset some more fancied opponents, and I have no doubt they’ll do exactly that.”

While the pursuit of medals is always a driving force, the school places equal value on the broader benefits of the Games.

The event offers students the chance to compete in a friendly yet highly competitive environment, encouraging participation and enjoyment at a time when many young people are stepping away from sport and some local clubs are struggling for numbers.

Other Eastern Bay schools competing are Awakeri School, which has girls’ and boys’ futsal teams, a netball team and a nine-hole golfer.

Matatā is sending a 3x3 basketball side, like it does most years.
Otakiri, for a small country school, is sending eight badminton players, four indoor bowlers and two 3x3 basketball teams.

St Joseph’s Catholic School has entered a mixed hockey team and has two people doing the girls’ rogaine and girls’ sprint rogaine.

Kawerau’s Tarawera High School is sending a netball and rip rugby team, while Tāneatua School has two 3x3 basketball teams, five boys’ nine-hole golfers and two females, along with two indoor bowlers.

Te Wharekura o Rūātoki is following in the footsteps of some of the town’s top athletes in Black Fern Stacey Waaka and All Black Sevens speedster Ngarohi McGarvey-Black by entering a seven’s side.

Te Kura o Te Paroa is sending a strong rippa rugby team.
Thornton Primary School has four gymnasts, and six canoe slalom or sprint canoe competitors.

Ōpōtiki based Woodlands Primary has a lawn bowler and a rip rugby team set to compete.

Ōpōtiki Primary School is taking away a boys’ futsal team, a netball team, an indoor bowler in the Athletes with a Disability division, nine other indoor bowlers, two squash playing brothers and a swimmer.