Samoan athlete Alex Rose will headline the Polynesian Track and Field Championships in Auckland, in March. Photo credit: Casey Sims.
Over 100 Polynesian athletes will compete at the re‑established Polynesian Track and Field Championships in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, during March, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The Championships will return as part of the 2026 New Zealand Track and Field Championships, taking place from March 5-8, at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.
The revival of this significant event marks a decade since the championships were last held, and a meaningful step forward in strengthening ties across the Pacific, while creating new opportunities for athletes, coaches, and officials from the region.
Last staged in 2016 in Papeete, Tahiti, the Championships have a strong history, with five editions since their inception in Apia, Samoa, in 2000.
Their return reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s commitment to supporting athletics in the region and fostering pathways for athletes and officials to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics approaching, the event is a key stepping stone in helping the Pacific prepare for a rare home‑region Olympic Games.
Headlining the championships will be Samoa’s first-ever World Athletics Championships medalist, Alex Rose.
Alex made history in Tokyo earlier this year, where he claimed an emphatic bronze in the men’s discus with a throw of 66.96m.
While the bronze medal in Tokyo was a career high, the 33-year-old has vast international experience on the road to his success.
Alex has represented Samoa at three Olympic Games; that experience shone through in Tokyo as he delivered a quality series of throws in the pouring rain as the competition dragged into the night.
He will be lining up against New Zealand’s own Connor Bell, who holds the New Zealand record at 69.51m.
The Polynesian Championships will be integrated into the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, creating a unique celebration of sport and culture.
The programme will include standalone 100m finals for men and women exclusively for Polynesian nations.
These championship races, alongside the men’s discus, will be staged as part of Track Stars, New Zealand’s premier athletics entertainment show, broadcast live and free on TVNZ 1 and streaming on TVNZ+.
Alongside the competition, a development camp for the competing Polynesian athletes will provide coaching and mentoring opportunities, while officials and coaching workshops will help build capacity and expertise across the islands.
Over 100 athletes from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tahiti, American Samoa, French Polynesia, and Niue are expected to compete.
This formal partnership will elevate that involvement and provide structured pathways for athlete development and education.
Athletics NZ has partnered with Pasifika TV to deliver coverage in home nations, connecting these championships to the athletes’ families and friends back home.
Local organising groups will bring cultural flair to the event, creating a vibrant celebration of Polynesian identity alongside world-class competition.
Athletics NZ Chief Executive Cam Mitchell is thrilled to welcome the Polynesian Championships to New Zealand.
“This announcement is hugely significant for athletics in New Zealand and across the Pacific,” he says.
“Re-establishing the Polynesian Championships gives us an incredible opportunity to connect with Pacific communities here in Auckland and celebrate the rich cultural identity that makes this region so special.
“By embedding the Championships within our New Zealand Champs and showcasing the 100m finals as part of Track Stars, we’re creating something fresh and exciting that will elevate our sport and engage fans old and new.”
Free General Admission tickets for Track Stars are now available online, as well as spectator tickets for all four days of the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, incorporating the Polynesian Track and Field Championships.
Fans can watch Track Stars from home live and free on TVNZ One or streaming on TVNZ+ or via Pasifika TV in the wider Pacific region.