Official Documents
Rowing New Zealand, the country's governing body for rowing, traces its origins back nearly 150 years to its establishment as the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association on March 16, 1887.
The organisation would later evolve to become the New Zealand Rowing Association upon incorporation on October 31, 1983 and then Rowing New Zealand.
The sport's deep roots in New Zealand go right back to the Canterbury Rowing Club, established in 1861, which holds the distinction of being not only the nation's oldest rowing club but also is believed to be the oldest sporting club of any kind in New Zealand.
Recent Annual Reports
2025 Annual Report
2024 Annual Report
2023 Annual Report
2022 Annual Report
2021 Annual Report
RNZ Constitution, Regulations and NZ Rules of Racing
The current constitution was adopted by the membership in 2025.
The NZ Rules of Racing were updated in 2025 and set out the rules governing all New Zealand Rowing Regattas.
Please see Our Current Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Racing below.
Changes to the Constitution are made via remits that are voted on at the AGM by our Member Associations.
Constitution Templates
On 25 May 2025 the members of Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) approved a new constitution that aligns to the new requirements of the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
One of the requirements under the new Act is for all Incorporated Societies to re-register by 5 April 2026. Aligned with this, the new RNZ constitution means all affiliated Associations, Clubs and Affiliate Members to have a constitution which is compliant and consistent with the new RNZ Constitution by 5 April 2026.
To assist our members, RNZ has developed template constitutions for Associations and Clubs to use to meet this requirement and to comply with, and re-register their organisation under, the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
Please read Memo re RNZ Template Constitutions for further information.
Key Rowing NZ Policies
AGM
The 2027 Rowing NZ AGM and NZ Rowing Foundation AGM will be held on Saturday 22nd May 2027 at the Cooks Gardens, Maria Place, Whanganui.
The note of meeting will be emailed out and made available online before Friday 19th February 2027.
Statement of Strategic Priorities
Our Statement of Strategic Priorities 2026-2029 gudies the delivery of our programs and our mahi to be a World Leading Rowing Nation - on and off the water