SPORT 

Sport is an integral part of every student's wellbeing and education. Iona College has an extensive range of sporting opportunities for girls of all fitness levels and abilities. 

 While we strive to have highly competitive teams across all sports, we are equally focussed on inclusion and participation. As part of the Special Character of the College, we encourage all of our girls to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle. ​​​​​​​Sport is compulsory from Year 7 to Year 12 to promote good health, fun, fitness and self-confidence. We recognise that regular participation in sporting activities develops the whole person and further empowers our girls with social skills, leadership, teamwork and the drive for excellence. 

Our sports programme is extensive and wide-ranging, and our girls enjoy modern sporting equipment and superior facilities. Within the school grounds, there is an outdoor multi-sports complex for hockey, netball, tennis and basketball, a multi-lane swimming pool, large fields for athletics and football, a  full-sized indoor netball court, and provision for badminton, volleyball, equestrian and more. In addition, we have a recently refurbished fitness room. 

We take great pride in our achievements at a regional and national level and support our elite sportswomen in their international endeavours. Our dedicated Sports Department and coaches foster an inclusive sporting culture with a considered balance of support, guidance, expert advice and challenge.   ​​

We are agile and
responsive in our
varied sports programme
​​​​​​​ which can include:



  • ​​​​​​​Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Cross Country
  • Cycling
  • Equestrian



  • ​​​​​​​Football
  • Golf
  • Hockey
  • Kayaking
  • Netball
  • Pilates
  • Polo

​​​​​​​


  • Rowing
  • Skiing
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Water Polo
  • Yoga

IOWNIT - HIGH-PERFORMANCE ATHLETE PROGRAMME

In 2021, we were proud to launch IOWNIT - a new high-performance athlete development programme, organised in conjunction with the Hawke's Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust.

 I (Individual) O (Opportunities) W (With) N (Nutrition) I (Insight) T (Training)

PROUD SPORTING MOMENTS 

Equestrian Excellence   

Our Iona Equestrian team has achieved remarkable success over the past few years, consistently demonstrating their talent and comittment. A major highlight has been their podium finish for three consecutive years (2023-2025), at the prestigious Pegasus North Island Secondary Schools' Equestrian Event. This highly competitive event, held at the stunning Takapoto Estate by Lake Karapiro, attracts over 50 schools.  


Hockey - Division 1 Champions   

The 1st XI hockey team won the Hawke's Bay Divison 1 Secondary Schools competition in 2024. 

You simply could not miss the ‘Spirit of Iona’ on and off the field in the final match of the season as our 1st XI met old rivals Napier Girls’ High School in an intense final. The match was physical and full of heart, with both teams giving it their all until the final whistle. Our girls were proud to finish with a 2-0 win and be awarded the 2024 trophy.

This remarkable success is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team, and the guidance of coach, Butch Menzies.  His strategic insights, and unwavering support have been truly instrumental in shaping the team's winning mentality and building a strong team culture.


National Shooting Champions  

​​​​​​​Our exceptional Iona A shooting team – Maddie France, Bridget France, and Charlotte Oliver – achieved outstanding performances at the 2024 end-of-season championships.

The team secured a double victory, cementing their place at the top of secondary school clay target shooting. They first clinched the South Island Secondary Schools Girls' DTL Clay Target Shooting Championship, and in the same weekend, continued their winning streak to claim the National Girls' Championship title for 2024.

Adding to this remarkable team success, Maddie France was named the Girls' overall 'High Gun' and also had the honour of representing New Zealand at the World DTL Clay Target Shooting Championship in Wales.

Maadi 2023 - A record number of A Finals ​​​​

A large group of 16 Iona athletes competed at the 2023 Maadi Cup on Lake Karāpiro in Cambridge. Iona had six boats make the A finals, which was an outstanding achievement placing each in the top 8 in the country. 

Special congratulations to medal winners Angalla Carney, who entered two events and came home with a medal from each race,  and doubles partner Libby Windhager. 

- Silver medal - Angalla Carney and Libby Windhager – U16 Double Single Sculls  
- Bronze medal - Angalla Carney – U16 Single Sculls​​​​​​​

Ranked No.1 Hockey team in NZ 

​​​​​​​In 2018, Iona College defied the odds to win the NZ Secondary Schools' top tier Federation Cup Tournament for the first time in the school’s history. This achievement was the culmination of commitment, tenacity, talent and teamwork over many years. Iona College secured 9th place in 2016, 5th in 2017,  and 1st in 2018. 

The team created double history celebrating a first for Iona and also the first Hawke's Bay secondary school to be crowned the best senior schoolgirls' hockey team in New Zealand. 

This is an outstanding record of success for a team from a small school and is aspirational for all future players, in the school. It is important to have dreams and when they are achieved there is deep satisfaction in that achievement. 

Olivia Shannon, the star striker for the team,  recently made her Olympic debut representing the NZ  Black Sticks hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics, held in July 2021.