Health and life insurer nib New Zealand has opened entries for its 2026 nib Junior $10K Relay, a half-time race at Eden Park that will see eight junior rugby teams from Auckland, North Harbour, and Northland compete for a $10,000 grant to upgrade sports resources at their club or school. Now in its fifth year, the relay will be held during the break in the Blues vs Hurricanes match at Eden Park on May 16, 2026. Eight finalist teams, drawn from local junior rugby clubs and schools, will contest the event for a single $10,000 prize intended for sports-related equipment or facility improvements.
Each finalist team must have 10 runners aged between 11 and 13 on May 16, 2026. The race will be run on Eden Park’s main field as part of the match-day schedule. Registrations are open and close at 5pm on May 6, 2026. To enter, clubs and schools must outline in 50 words or fewer how they would use the funding to support the health and wellbeing of their junior players. Organisers will select and announce the eight finalist teams on May 7, 2026.
nib New Zealand chief executive officer Skye Daniels said the relay is structured to link participation in community sport with targeted financial support. “Racing at Eden Park is an unforgettable experience. The $10,000 prize gives the winning club or school the chance to invest in what they want and need, in terms of sports equipment upgrades or new kit,” Daniels said. Previous winners have used the grant for projects such as facilities upgrades, equipment purchases, first-aid training, and travel to sports camps. Kumeu Rugby Club applied its $10,000 prize to the construction of a women’s changing room, completed in 2025. “With increased participation across our junior grades and premier women’s team, this upgrade has enabled us to create an environment that supports and encourages female participation. We’re grateful to nib for the community backing,” junior coordinator Angela Pulini said.
The relay sits within nib’s long-running sponsorship of the Blues and forms part of the franchise’s community engagement activities in its 30th anniversary year. The 2026 event coincides with the DHL Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Aupiki seasons. Blues chief executive Karl Budge said the relay is now a recurring feature of the club’s grassroots programme. “It’s amazing to see the positive impact the nib Junior $10K Relay has on our grassroots communities. Supporting junior rugby clubs and schools with wellbeing initiatives while creating a fun event for kids to get excited about is a prime example of the awesome mahi we accomplish with nib due to our long-standing partnership,” Budge said.
nib has sponsored the Blues men’s team since 2013 and extended its backing to the women’s team in 2021. The initiative illustrates how a health insurer is using sports partnerships to promote participation and wellbeing messages alongside core insurance offerings. Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu encouraged junior clubs and schools in the region to submit entries. “For all the kids out there, grab your teammates and make sure you enter. It’s all about running hard, having fun, and representing your school or club. We can’t wait to see teams from right across the Blues’ region on the field,” Tuipulotu said.
Promotion of the 2026 relay is being linked to new nib-commissioned research into what New Zealand adults most want to pass on to younger generations, with findings relevant to health and life insurers’ prevention and engagement strategies. In an online survey of about 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and over, conducted from Dec. 5 to 7, 2025, 61% of respondents said the most important lesson to pass on to young people is how to live a healthy lifestyle. By comparison, 21% identified wealth as a top priority.
When asked to rank potential legacies, respondents placed living a healthy lifestyle first (61%), followed by achieving a good education (58%), giving back to the community (44%), and carrying on family traditions (30%). Generating wealth and being well known or respected in the community each received support from 21% of respondents, indicating these are regarded as secondary to health and education in this context.
The research also highlights variation between age groups in how strongly they prioritise healthy lifestyles for young people, which may shape how insurers tailor engagement and digital tools for different cohorts. Across the total sample, four in five respondents (80%) said it is important for young people to seek a healthy lifestyle. Among millennials aged 35 to 44, 90% regarded a healthy lifestyle as important. Among Gen Z respondents aged 18 to 24, the proportion fell to 60%. Gen Z respondents were also more likely than the general sample to say it is “very unimportant” for young people to seek a healthy lifestyle, with 28% holding that view compared with 12% overall. The findings suggest that younger adults may be prioritising other goals or encountering perceived barriers, such as cost, time, or access, that make healthy choices seem less attainable.
