World champs for Collier

Nick Collier

Cambridge kayaker Nick Collier has qualified to represent New Zealand in the senior men’s kayak cross team and the U23 canoe slalom team at world cup and world championship events.

It has been a successful summer of racing for the fourth-year University of Waikato student, who took bronze in the kayak cross elite men’s open class at the Nujiang Wildwater International Open in January, achieving a podium finish at the competition for the second year running.

Collier, 21, also distinguished himself as the top U23 Oceania paddler at the 2025 Canoe Slalom Australian Open in Sydney from last month.

He is now training for this year’s national canoe slalom and kayak cross championships in Tekapo in April.

Cambridge kayaker Nick Collier takes a break from studying to train on the Waikato River near the low level bridge. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins.

More Recent Sports

First round to Hautapu

Hautapu premiers beat Ōtorohanga 40-26 at Cambridge’s Memorial Park to pip Hamilton Marist to first round honours and the Ron Crawford Shield. Both teams won seven and lost once – and picked up points for…

They’re hands down winners

Just 800m from the end, after pushing each other to their physical limits for more than 15 heart-pounding minutes, Emma Cotter and Maisey Butler made a snap decision. “Maisey asked me, do you want to…

100 up to hold cup, shield

Hautapu went on a rampage at Cambridge Memorial Park, beating Te Awamutu 101-7 to retain the Waipā Cup and the George Simpkin Shield. Read more  

Hautapu and Hedley on target

It was a mixed bag for Waipā senior club rugby sides on Saturday but Hautapu once again proved their depth and dominance. In the Waikato premier division, the Cambridge-based side won 70-21 Morrinsville Sports at…